Establishing transboundary protected areas to achieve sustainability.

The Bajo tribe is a group of people who depend on the sea. The Bajo tribe views the sea as a fundamental entity, and believe that the sea is the source of life. The life of the Bajo tribe is inseparable from the noble values and local wisdom that they hold upto. This Bajo tribal area, with its immense marine biodiversity, faces serious threats from a variety of factors, including overfishing as well as fish bombing, coral reef damage, and environmental pollution. This study uses a Qualitative Descriptive method using an ethnographic study with a number of subjects of two people , informant determination techniques using purposive sampling and subject retrieval using triangulation techniques. The forms of local wisdom of the Bajo Tribe that play a role in preserving the environment are: The Bajo Tribe's belief in spirit spirits or the supernatural, the Tibaanca tradition, and the use of traditional fishing gear. Local wisdom has a role in preserving the environment such as: Sustainable use of natural resources, protection of biodiversity, and control of environmental pollution. The Bajo tribe in Torosiaje uses local wisdom that they hold fast to to preserve the environment from environmental damage.

The conservation of natural resources to ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture is a national priority. Likewise, reforming South Africa’s land and agrarian structure remains a key objective. However, balancing agricultural reform with the sustainable use of natural resources remains challenging. This study contributes to this body of work by analysing rangeland capability and its determinants on farms redistributed under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS). A national survey of 1 752 farms was conducted, capturing information on farm manager demographics, farm characteristics and performance. Using published natural resource capability datasets, GPS coordinates of each farm and Surveyor-General cadastral boundaries projected through Google Maps, an interdisciplinary panel of scientists assessed the rangeland productivity of PLAS farms. The Tobit regression results indicate that factors such as the risk of bush encroachment, commercial productivity, gender of the farm manager, tenure security and climate capability were statistically significant in explaining variations in rangeland capability scores. As such, climate-change adaptation should be prioritised in rangeland management. Strengthening the public agricultural extension service by employing more rangeland ecologists could also ensure the sustainability of rangelands.

Macroalgal species are widely distributed throughout the world's oceans and are well recognised for their biotechnological, ecological, and pharmacological potentials, containing a wide range of diverse bioactive compounds. In many coastal habitats worldwide, excessive accumulations of algal biomass (including rapidly growing blooms and drift accumulations resulting from dislodgement from benthic habitats) are commonplace and can pose environmental and economic challenges. In this study, we report occurrences of algal blooms and drift accumulations during 2024 and 2025 involving three major macroalgal clades, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyta, from two distinct marine regions: the North Atlantic Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Species identified included Grateloupia turuturu, Polyides rotundus, Ascophyllum nodosum, Ulva spp., Sargassum spp. and Fucus spp., among others. The indicated species are known for their diverse pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Specialised bioinformatic tools were employed to assess the potential of identified macroalgae as a source of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). For selected macroalgal species, in silico screening of publicly available databases was performed to identify previously reported and characterised AMPs associated with these species. This in silico approach presents a promising strategy for discovering novel antimicrobial agents with potential activity, especially against drug-resistant bacteria. Finally, applying proteomics methodologies for in silico evaluation of the selected algal species advances modern technologies for the sustainable use of natural resources.

The abundance of natural resources in a country significantly enhances its wealth and supports economic growth. Natural resources cannot fulfill their optimal function in economic development if not managed sustainably. The environment encompasses the habitat of humans, plants and animals including air, water, vegetation, flora, fauna and the overall ecosystem. Nigeria is an ecologically distinctive nation with a diverse array of ecosystems. This ecosystem include coastal and mangrove swamps, lowland montane forests and grassland savannahs, comprising three principal forest types and seven vegetation zones throughout the country.The study therefore carried out an appraisal of environmental laws for the protection of natural resources with specific objectives to examine the types of natural resources, importance of conservation of natural resources, methods of conserving natural resources for the purpose of achieving sustainable development and applicability of international framework with the aim of achieving goal 8 and 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve this, the study adopted a desk-based research methodology and examined the existing international and domestic environmental laws for the protection and conservation of natural resources. The study concluded that although the exploitation of natural resources is essential for economic development, it is quite unfortunate that exploitation of these resources brings about a lot of negative effect to the environment, which includes deforestation, erosion, pollution and loss of biodiversity. The study therefore made recommendations to improve the sustainable use of natural resources by harnessing resources in a manner that will not imperil the environment but improve income generation of the nation.

Waste to value: Synthesis of efficient MnFe2O4 catalytic materials from spent LiMn2O4 cathode materials via FeSO4 reductive leaching and in-situ coprecipitation.

Abstract Rice remains the main staple food in Indonesia, but high dependency on rice threatens food security, particularly in coastal communities vulnerable to climate change and limited agricultural land. Diversifying staple foods through analog rice development offers a sustainable solution by utilizing underused local resources. This study aimed to optimize the formulation of analog rice made from kimpul tuber ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ) and Anjasmoro soybean ( Glycine max ) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD). Two main responses, energy value and protein content, were analyzed to determine the optimal formulation. The best composition was found at 65% kimpul flour and 35% soybean flour, producing an energy value of 372 kcal/100 g and protein content of 12.6%, comparable to conventional rice. This result indicates that integrating local tuber and legume crops can provide nutritious and sustainable food alternatives for coastal regions, reducing dependence on conventional rice. The findings contribute to national food diversification strategies and support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources in coastal ecosystems.

The increasing demand for sustainable energy drives innovations in environmentally friendly renewable energy technologies, one of which is the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC), which utilizes the biochemical activity of plants to generate electricity. This study examines the potential of PMFC as an eco-friendly energy solution and its relevance to Islami teachings on environmental conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. Experimental results show that the PMFC with Aluminium-Copper (Al-Cu) electrodes generates a maximum current of 0,396 mA and a voltage of 0,393 V, while the Aluminium-Zinc (Al-Zn) combination only produces 0,255 mA and 0,222 V. Additionally, wet soil conditions enhance the power output to 0,051 mW. This study demonstrates that PMFC can convert the chemical energy in plants into electricity without harmful emissions, aligning with Islamic principles that emphasize sustainability and the prevention of environmental damage.

Balancing recreational services of national parks with the protection of ecological environment quality is essential for the sustainable use of natural resources. Taking Qianjiangyuan National Park as a case study, this study integrated remote sensing data, trajectories, and geotagged photos, and applied the remote sensing ecological index, a clustering algorithm, and the coupling coordination model to investigate the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between ecological environment quality and tourist spatial activities from 2017 to 2024. The results showed that: (1) The ecological environment quality of the study area remained generally high, with over 79.20% of the area classified as good and above. High-value areas were primarily located in the northwest and southern regions. In contrast, low-value areas were primarily located along the periphery, in residential zones, and adjacent to roads. (2) Tourist activities were primarily concentrated in forest ecosystem regions with high ecological and recreational value. The distribution of trajectories exhibited distinct seasonal patterns and a fluctuating trend from 2017 to 2024, characterized by an initial increase, a subsequent decline, and eventual recovery. The 18 areas of interest demonstrated a spatial distribution characterized by linear continuity and localized aggregation; (3) The ecological environment quality and tourist spatial activities generally exhibited strong coupling and basic coordination. High values were primarily observed in the northwest and southwest of the study area, while low values were concentrated in the northeast, central, and southern regions. These spatial patterns provide actionable insights for targeted management strategies to balance tourism utilization and ecological conservation in national parks.

Abstract: This study focuses on sustainable livelihood frameworks (SLF) in rural tribal communities and the role of small forest produce within them. A sustainable livelihood framework is a people-centered approach that seeks holistic development without harming natural resources. It is primarily based on five types of capital: human capital (skills, knowledge, health), social capital (community organizations, self-help groups), natural capital (forests, biodiversity), physical capital (equipment, roads, storage), and financial capital (income, savings, market linkages). Strengthening these five contributes to sustainable use of natural resources, increased income, health, reduced social vulnerability, and food security. The focus of this study is Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh, where, according to the 2011 census, approximately 70% of the population is tribal (mostly Gond, Mudia, Madia, and Halba communities). The tribals here depend on non-timber Forest products such as fruits, leaves, flowers, herbs, etc., which are obtained without harming nature. Studies have found that approximately 70-80% of tribal families earn income directly or indirectly from these forest products. People understand the importance of forests and want to protect them for the future. Government schemes (such as MSP, Van Dhan Kendra) are helpful in this direction, but the local market structure is weak and dominated by middlemen and unorganized businesses, due to which tribals are unable to get fair prices.

Abstract Climate change and environmental degradation pose significant challenges to global sustainability, necessitating innovative approaches to economic and financial practices. While green finance and eco-innovation have emerged as potential solutions to mitigate ecological degradation, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding their efficacy in addressing the “resource curse” phenomenon. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the impacts of green finance, eco-innovation, and natural resources on the ecological footprint of 20 OECD countries from 1990 to 2020. Additionally, this study examines the moderating role of green finance and eco-innovation in the relationship between natural resources and the ecological footprint. To achieve this objective, the study employed a comprehensive methodological framework, including the method of moments quantile regression and machine learning techniques. The results revealed that natural resources exacerbate environmental degradation, which validates the “resource curse” hypothesis. Green finance is negatively and significantly related to the ecological footprint across all quantiles. The interaction term of green finance and natural resources shows a significant and positive association with the ecological footprint at the lower quantiles, whereas at the upper quantile, the coefficient value becomes negative but statistically insignificant. Eco-innovation fosters environmental sustainability across all quantiles, with a more pronounced effect observed in the upper quantiles. Eco-innovation significantly moderates the association between natural resources and the ecological footprint, indicating that eco-innovation can be a viable tool for curing the resource curse. The robustness test further validates these results. The study recommends that governments prioritize the development and implementation of comprehensive green finance frameworks to direct investments in environmentally sustainable projects, promote eco-innovation, and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.

Purpose — This study aims to analyze the development of young farmers in UB Forest as woodcraft souvenir producers by implementing a sustainable accounting model based on the pentuple bottom line. The study investigates the social, environmental, economic, technological, and spiritual dimensions influencing community empowerment and craft production. Design/methodology/approach — Using a participatory method involving the community and youth around UB Forest, data were collected through observations, training activities, and stakeholder engagement. The model applies the pentuple bottom line framework covering people (social), planet (environment), profit (economic), pheno-technology (technology), and prophet (spiritual) aspects. Findings — The study finds significant improvements in skills and awareness among the community and youth, sustainable use of natural resources, and increased income through woodcraft sales. Technological applications are in early stages with plans for modernization, while spiritual education supports the community’s resilience and values. The holistic approach fosters sustainable development compatible with environmental conservation and community welfare. Practical implications — This integrated accounting model empowers local communities by enhancing socio-economic welfare, preserving biodiversity, and promoting spiritual growth. The model provides a replicable framework for sustainable community development in natural resource-based industries, emphasizing the importance of multidimensional sustainability. Originality/value — This case presents a comprehensive application of the pentuple bottom line in community service, illustrating sustainability accounting beyond traditional financial metrics. It contributes novel insights into sustainable rural development linking spirituality with economic and environmental aspects in an emerging economy context.

The article substantiates that tourism belongs to the resource-intensive sectors of the economy, which carries a significant environmental burden through a developed network of transport infrastructure, water and energy consumption, waste generation and, as a result, causes a significant impact on the environment. Therefore, an important issue for tourism is the circular economy approaches using, that allow minimizing this impact and are aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, preserving biodiversity and increasing social and economic benefits for local communities. It was emphasized that renewable energy sources using by tourist infrastructure facilities can be one of the directions of the circular approach. International tourism is a source of carbon dioxide emissions through the use of various types of transport. The circular economy offers a transition to electric vehicles; bicycles; public transport, which is characterized by a relatively low level of emissions; hydrogen technologies and biofuels using, which is an impetus for reducing the carbon footprint. Waste management is another direction of the circular economy. For the tourism sector, the issues of waste sorting, the creation of closed water supply systems, biodegradable materials using, and the organization of resource reuse programs are important. Attention was drawn to the fact that the circular economy in tourism is an important tool in the fight against climate changes. Rational use of resources, preservation of ecosystems, reduction of carbon emissions, and the introduction of an appropriate certification system for tourist facilities – all this contributes to global climate goals’ achieving. The draft strategy for the implementation of circular economy principles in Ukraine was considered, which contains four strategic goals: development and harmonization of legislation for the European Union integration; development of business; public awareness, social responsibility of business; promotion of innovative development and «green transition», aimed at environmentally safe, competitive and sustainable economic growth of Ukraine through effective management of resources and waste. It was noted that circular strategies of Ukraine require unified generalized approaches for making effective decisions in the field of circular economy.

The Rainfed Areas of the Pontal Public Irrigation Project (PPI), located in the municipality of Petrolina, Pernambuco, represent a paradigm shift in the implementation of public irrigation projects in the Brazilian Semi-arid region. This initiative is innovative within the scope of the Public Irrigation Projects developed by the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf) and was conceived as a strategy to mitigate the social impacts resulting from the expropriation of rural properties required for the implementation of the irrigated scheme. The model is based on a differentiated land tenure, economic, and socio-environmental organization, grounded in guided land occupation, land tenure regularization, and shared institutional management. This article analyzes how the adoption of a planned socioeconomic intervention enabled the creation and consolidation of Rainfed Areas within a project originally designed for irrigated agriculture. The analysis considers the results accumulated over approximately ten years of implementation, demonstrating that, despite punctual non-compliances observed in part of the production units, the model has consolidated itself as a successful experience of social inclusion, income generation, and sustainable use of natural resources. The results indicate positive impacts on improving the living conditions of beneficiary families, diversifying productive activities, and strengthening sustainable territorial development, in line with the ONU (United Nations) 2030 Agenda and the ODS (Sustainable Development Goals), particularly SDGs 1, 2, 10, and 15. It is concluded that the replication of this model is feasible and desirable, provided it is accompanied by institutional improvements.

The article investigates the distribution, degradation status, and conservation measures of natural forage areas, such as meadows and pastures, which constitute the main fodder base for livestock farming in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It is noted that improper and uncontrolled use of these areas has led to changes in the botanical composition of meadows and pastures, as well as degradation of soil and vegetation cover. In this context, the efficient and sustainable use of natural forage lands in agriculture is of great importance. The study reveals that meadows are mainly located in the subalpine grasslands of mountainous regions and river valleys; summer pastures are situated in the alpine meadow zone, while winter pastures occupy the semi-desert zone of the Araz plain. The total area of natural forage lands in the Autonomous Republic amounts to 82,532 hectares, of which 3,177 hectares are meadows, 9,228 hectares are summer pastures, and 70,127 hectares are winter pastures. Intensive use of pasture lands has resulted in soil compaction due to trampling; in summer pastures, the turf layer has been damaged, and soil erosion and degradation have been observed. In winter pastures, the spread of weed species and soil salinization have increased. Currently, 7,325 hectares of summer pastures and 56,642 hectares of winter pastures have become unsuitable for agricultural use. Overall, 63,967 hectares (approximately 80%) of natural forage lands are assessed as degraded pastures. This trend contributes to landscape deterioration, loss of biological diversity, and an increased risk of desertification. Therefore, the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of natural forage resources require the implementation of comprehensive measures. The article also proposes specific recommendations aimed at preventing the degradation of meadows and pastures.

In the context of the ongoing climate crisis, the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems in peri-urban areas play a crucial role in alleviating the adverse impacts of climate change on urban populations, particularly in cities with limited green spaces. This study explores the biodiversity and ecological values of an old-growth forest in the peri-urban area, Thessaloniki, northern Greece, the Kouri Forest. These types of forest ecosystems, except for their high ecological values, provide a lot of benefits to the city residents and the surrounding areas, and to achieve that they should have appropriate composition, structure and function to be able to provide high-level ecosystem services. The research was based on collecting analytical field data, including field sampling plots, and a series of tree cores for tree age determination and tree growth analysis. Data analysis demonstrates the unique characteristics of this forest, which was found to be an old-growth forest dominated by deciduous oak species, aged over 180 years. The high biodiversity of the forest and the rich composition and the multistorey stand structure, in combination with the long age of the trees, suggests that the forest is an old-growth (ancient) forest, and set the forest as an important biogenetic reserve, despite its small area, proximity to the city of Thessaloniki, and the pressures subjected. Accordingly, special management measures are suggested to aim at the sustainable use of peri-urban natural resources.

Objective: To understand the relationship between the environment, sustainable development, and public policies, identifying strategies for promoting actions aimed at strengthening sustainability. Theoretical Framework: The worsening global environmental crisis has provoked increasingly urgent debates about the direction of human development and the relationship between society and nature. The acceleration of destructive processes such as deforestation, the contamination of water resources, and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions reveals the limitations of the current civilizational model based on the intensive exploitation of nature. In this scenario, rethinking how human beings relate to ecological systems has become not only a scientific necessity, but also an ethical, social, and political imperative. Method: The following steps were used: identification of the theme and establishment of the research question; definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria; definition of the information to be extracted from the selected studies (data categorization); evaluation of the studies included in the review and presentation or synthesis of the knowledge. The primary selection of studies was carried out by searching the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the Journal Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). In the analysis of the studies, the following descriptors were integrated: environmental education, sustainability, citizenship, sustainable development and environmental responsibility. The Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) instrument were used. For the sample selection, inclusion criteria were defined that encompass the need for the study to be fully available free of charge in electronic media in the aforementioned databases, written in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and addressing the guiding criteria. Results and Discussion: It is necessary to rethink how territories are occupied, exploited, and governed, which implies recognizing that natural resources are not infinite and that hegemonic models of development present increasingly evident ethical and ecological limits. The study reinforces the need to strengthen this interdisciplinary and collaborative perspective to create a more conscious society capable of facing socio-environmental challenges in an integrated and supportive way. Research Implications: The research highlights the need to reformulate public policies and social practices to promote the sustainable use of natural resources. It also emphasizes the importance of environmental education in forming citizens who are aware and committed to the preservation of the environment. Finally, it reinforces the urgency of strengthening interdisciplinary approaches that integrate science, politics, and society in building a model of sustainable development. Originality/Value: The originality of this study lies in integrating the environmental, social, and political dimensions to understand sustainability in a broad and interdisciplinary way. The value of the research lies in offering theoretical and practical support for strengthening public policies and educational actions aimed at sustainability. Furthermore, it contributes to the debate on new development models that reconcile human progress and ecological balance.

. Eco-print is a technique for printing leaf and flower motifs on fabric by utilizing natural materials derived from the surrounding environment. This technique is not only environmentally friendly but also encourages artistic exploration and the sustainable use of natural resources in art education. The method applied in this activity is a project-based learning approach, in which students are actively and collaboratively involved throughout the entire process of artistic creation. The learning stages include the introduction of eco-print concepts, the collection and selection of natural materials, color experimentation, the motif printing process, and the presentation and reflection of the final artworks. The results indicate that students experience improvements in creativity, particularly in imaginative ability, willingness to experiment, problem-solving skills, and aesthetic sensitivity to form and color. In addition, this learning activity contributes to strengthening environmental awareness, care for nature, and the introduction of local wisdom through the use of natural materials. Therefore, the implementation of eco-print and natural dye art has proven to be an effective and innovative learning medium that supports the holistic development of students’ creativity, character, and environmental awareness.

Governance quality is increasingly recognised as the decisive factor shaping the sustainability of natural resource management (NRM) in developing countries. This manuscript critically examines how governance gaps manifested through institutional fragmentation, weak enforcement, corruption, limited participation, and policy incoherence undermine the sustainable use of natural resources. Employing a desk-based qualitative design, the study synthesised over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports (2015–2025) using systematic search procedures and thematic content analysis. Findings reveal that NRM failures are systemic and interdependent: fragmented institutions erode coordination, integrity deficits weaken legitimacy, and inadequate participation limits compliance. The review identifies polycentric governance and policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD) as complementary frameworks capable of bridging these governance gaps. It concludes that sustainable NRM requires holistic reform integrating institutional capacity, transparency, and inclusive co-management anchored in both national coordination and local autonomy. The study contributes to scholarship and policy by proposing a hybrid governance model that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 13, 15 and 16) and offers a pragmatic pathway towards environmental resilience and socio-economic equity in developing contexts.

The role of indigenous grazing management practices in sustainable natural resource use has been widely identified and recognised in the literature. However, the grazing management practices of Nama pastoralists in the semi-arid regions in Namaqualand in South Africa have not been adequately studied in terms of GPS-based seasonal grazing distribution. This study aimed to assess the seasonal livestock grazing distributional patterns across three communal rangelands in Namaqualand using GPS collars. The objectives were to: (1) generate grazing distributional maps to identify patterns of seasonal rangeland use, (2) compare area covered at different grazing intensities of livestock between seasons, (3) delineate different grazing zones at different times of day, and (4) contrast seasonal differences within these grazing zones regarding grazing activity. CatLog GPS collars were mounted on livestock and T-LoCoH R package and Google Earth were used to generate grazing distribution maps showing areas most and least frequently used by livestock and daily movement patterns. The results showed that Namaqualand herds grazed only a small proportion (21.1%) of their mean home range (809.6 ± 76.2 ha) at high and moderate grazing intensities, regardless of season, corresponding to areas of 48.1 ± 13.5 ha and 287.7 ± 41.60 ha, respectively. In the wet season, herds used a 16.8% larger area than in the dry season. The area associated with high grazing densities was significantly smaller than areas grazed at lower grazing pressure. No significant differences in mean area associated with seasonal variation within each level of grazing suggests herders are not seasonally altering areas associated with high grazing intensity, which are sometimes associated with permanent water sources. It is also likely that herders are concerned about ensuring their livestock have sustained access to optimal forage sources by avoiding other flocks using the same areas. Grazing activity is indirectly proportional to grazing speed. Grazing activity is lower in the herded zones (the morning–excitement/appetite moderation zone and the early afternoon–target zone, mean speed = 0.955 ± 0.006 km h−1) than when in an unherded zone (late afternoon–late afternoon meal, mean speed = 0.852 ± 0.010 km h−1). Mean distance travelled daily by herds in the herded zones was greatest (4.773 ± 0.029 km). In the wet season (7.365 ± 0.055 km) and a greater area was covered daily (10.6 ± 1.2 ha) as resources become more abundant relative to the dry season. This suggests that indigenous herding practices in Namaqualand require ecologically aware decision-making processes associated with effective resource use. Contemporary grazing management policies should be more inclusive of indigenous management as aspects of holistic grazing management have been embedded in these practices for centuries.