Use Of Natural Resources Research Articles

Natural resource use, industrialization and climate change in Africa: Blueprints for sustainable regional development

Climate crisis continue to animate environmental policy debate and remains a fundamental global concern. While natural resources use and industrialization are main drivers of climate change especially in developing countries like Africa, previous empirical studies have failed to analyze the simultaneous effect of both on climate change. To close this gap, the current study investigates the relationship between natural resources use, industrialization and climate change in Africa. Specifically, this study analyzes the effect of natural resources rents and value added in manufacturing on carbon dioxide emissions. Addressing these issues is important, as the implications of natural resources extraction and industrial development on environmental sustainability cannot be underestimated. This paper is very relevant because of the limited research on comprehensive frameworks that integrate natural resources use with industrialization policies specific to Africa. Using data from 2005 to 2022 for 45 African countries obtained from the African Infrastructural and World Bank databases, and employing the Cross-Sectional Feasible Generalized Least Squares, Driscoll-Kraay effects, Dynamic Driscoll-Kraay effects and Panel Quantile on Quantile regression techniques, the empirical findings revealed that natural resources rents and industrialization adversely contribute to climate change in Africa. Quantitative results show that a 1% increase in natural resource rents increased carbon dioxide emissions by 0.000103% for both Feasible Generalized Least Squares and Driscoll-Kraay estimates and by 0.00813% for the Dynamic Driscoll-Kraay estimates. Furthermore, a 1% increase in value added in manufacturing led to a 0.377% increase in carbon dioxide emissions for both Feasible Generalized Least Squares and Driscoll-Kraay estimates and a 0.157% increase for Dynamic Driscoll-Kraay estimates. The result also shows that the effect of natural resource extraction and industrialization on climate change become negative at both the 25% quantile and 50% quantile. However, this turning point becomes nullified at the 75% and at 90% quantiles. Africa should adopt a green path to natural resource use and industrialization.

Enhancing concrete pavement performance using refuse derived fuel fly ash as a sustainable cementitious material

ABSTRACT The utilization of waste materials in concrete is becoming increasingly important for sustainability in construction. This research investigated the mechanical performance and environmental safety of concretes containing Refuse Derived Fuel fly ash (RDF FA), a waste product from waste incineration plants. The innovative mix design strategically used RDF FA as both cement replacement and cementitious addition in concrete. Compressive and flexural strength test results showed that RDF FA addition increased both compressive and flexural strengths, while RDF FA replacement decreased strengths (< 28 days cured) compared to those of traditional cement concrete. Microstructural and mineralogical analyses revealed dense C–S-H formation in RDF FA added samples, indicating improved hydration. In contrast, RDF FA replacement reduced cementitious products and hindered hydration. RDF FA’s high SiO2 content and favourable SiO2/CaO ratio enhanced pozzolanic reaction in RDF FA added samples, further improving strength development. Leaching test results demonstrated that heavy metal concentrations in RDF FA-modified concretes remained within environmental protection limits. Thus, with proper mix design, RDF FA has the potential to be a sustainable supplement for concrete, reducing industrial waste and natural resource use. This work provides an approach to balance enhanced concrete performance with environmental safety when using RDF FA.

Resource Taxes as an Instrument to Foster Circularity? Analysis of the Effects of Resource Taxation on Circular Economy Progress in Europe

AbstractThe concept of Circular Economy (CE) keeps gaining momentum in political and societal debates as it is considered to contribute to a more sustainable use of natural resources. Policymakers seeking to foster CE progress require adequate regulatory instruments. One instrument often recommended is a tax on the use of natural resources. The present paper analyzes the effects of resource taxation on different CE indicators, especially resource productivity, based on panel data for 30 European countries from 1995 to 2021. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator is applied, and the results are checked for robustness using the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator. Despite current low levels of resource taxation, the results indicate that resource taxation positively affects resource productivity at least in the short run. The effect differs substantially in different countries. Hence, resource taxation seems to foster circularity, but the results indicate that other factors are of influence and should be considered when designing policies.

Regulating Land in Rural Africa: An Institutional, Vulnerability Perspective

Abstract Recent scholarship has focused on socio-economic trends concerning rural degradation, urbanisation and the sustainable use of natural resources. This article draws on these studies to focus on rural Africa, its projected poverty levels, and the institutional role in relation to these estimates. It uses vulnerability theory, progressive property theory and resilient property theory to reframe rural property as an asset of resilience for both communities and the state, arguing that property is being institutionalized across rural Africa to serve political interests, backed by global demands, at the cost of local communities, and their resiliency needs.

New nomenclature of scientific specialities: ecological-legal aspect

The article examines the negative consequences for the science of Ecological and Natural Resource Law of the decision of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia on the new nomenclature of scientific specialities for which academic degrees are awarded. It is shown how this decision will have a negative impact on the development of the law itself in the country. The author’s positions are based on the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the General theory of law, the theory of public law. The study was carried out in the context of the needs of solving acute problems of environmental protection and ensuring rational use of natural resources in the country, as well as overcoming the civilizational crisis.

Foreign experience of state regulation of food security

The world food problem is an economic fact that can lead to significant political consequences. Many experts believe that a spike in food prices is at the root of world revolutions and catastrophes. For example, in the Middle East and Africa, the poor spend about 50 per cent of their income on food, which means that rising prices of basic foodstuffs guarantee an incredibly high impact on household expenditure. At the heart of the global food problem, recurrent food crises, is the advancement of research results in the agro-industrial sector, which prevents the reduction of food prices, even when technical advances make it possible to increase yields in these countries. The current food problem in the development of mankind is that due to irrational and over-intensive use of natural resources, increasing demand for livestock products, increasing per capita food consumption, as well as other factors, there is a steady increase in food prices, which contributes to the emergence of threats to food security in developing countries, including the poorest populations of developed and developing countries. In addition to the above, the problem of adulterated products, the growing trend of popularisation of ‘harmful’ products, the increasing rate of sales of products made with the use of GMOs, and in these conditions, ensuring the safety of food and food raw materials becomes the primary task of the state, as these factors affect the life and health of the population, the preservation of the gene pool of the nation.

Conceptualization of state policy regarding economic security and sustainable development of the economy

The article clarified that the state policy in the field of economic security can be considered as a process of adopting legislative acts or management decisions regarding stable and significant economic growth; effective satisfaction of economic needs; state control over the movement and use of national resources; protection of the country’s economic interests at both the national and international levels and further control over the implementation of such strategic directions, which is determined by the state leadership and implemented by the authorized subjects of the public administration, as well as organizing the purposeful influence of the authorized subjects of the public administration on public relations in the field of economic security with the help of normatively determined forms and methods. The goal of state regulation is to optimize the level of economic security, which involves achieving a balance between savings and investments, as well as ensuring macroeconomic stability. This includes supporting sustainable economic growth and creating favorable economic and legal conditions for business entities. In accordance with the tasks of state policy in the field of ensuring the economic security of the state, its subspecies are regulatory and institutional policy, policy of ensuring the economic rights of citizens, policy of the development of the national economy and economic relations, policy of digitization of economic relations, ensuring economic and financial literacy of the population, as well as law enforcement policy in the field of economic security. It is emphasized that the principles of the state policy of sustainable development of the economy are divided into general principles that can be applied to most spheres of socio-political and socio-economic life of the state, as well as organizational principles that characterize the subject and spatial components of the formation and implementation of state policy in the sphere of ensuring economic state security. It was established that the existence of the Ukrainian economy in a state of crisis requires the implementation at the state level of a system-complex program of actions, an institutional concept of economic security in the system of the updated economic strategy of Ukraine, aimed at the sustainable development of the state economy, revival of economic potential, increasing the level of national security and its economic component, determination of destabilizing factors, localization of their negative impact, implementation of preventive measures, timely compensation of deviations from the normal state, which necessitates further scientific developments in this direction.

Application of Remote Sensing in Analyzing Mangrove Forest Changes and Drivers in Mui Ca Mau National Park, Vietnam

Mangroves are vital in coastal ecology and for sustaining and securing coastal communities. However, several factors such as human activities and climate change have changed mangroves' quantity and quality. This research analyses land-use/land cover (LULC) changes focusing on mangroves in Mui Ca Mau National Park (MCMNP) from 1995-2022. Collected Landsat imagery in 1995, 2003, and 2022 were applied to perform this research. Overall accuracy and Kappa of land cover classification were 88.5% and 0.86 in 2003, and 87.6% and 0.85 in 2022, respectively. The classified results showed that the mangrove area had increased significantly from 4,316.1 hectares in 1995 to 8,741.3 and 10,764.1 hectares in 2003 and 2022, respectively. In addition, the drivers of mangrove change were identified and analyzed. This study showed the important role of policy in mangrove conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. The study provided useful information for policy-making in terms of forest conservation and management.

The Potentials of the Interaction of Biomimicry and Artificial Intelligence Technology in Participatory Urban Design

Biomimicry is a discipline that develops human-made solutions inspired by the design and function of living things in nature. This approach aims to provide innovative and effective solutions in terms of sustainability and efficiency. Artificial intelligence is a field of technology that enables computer systems to have human-like intelligence. These systems can assist humans by performing tasks such as data analysis, learning and problem solving and have great potential in solving complex problems. This paper evaluates the interaction of participatory urban design, biomimicry and artificial intelligence technologies in the field of urban planning and design. Biomimicry explores how nature-inspired designs and processes can be used in urban spaces, while AI technologies utilise analytical and predictive capabilities to improve the efficiency of urban systems. The paper discusses examples of both concepts at the urban scale and discusses the benefits that arise from bringing these stakeholders together. The use of biomimicry principles in urban planning and design contributes to issues such as sustainability, energy efficiency, efficient use of natural resources, energy and resource conservation, adaptation and resilience. Artificial intelligence technologies, on the other hand, increase efficiency while solving complex and difficult problems in urban areas with big data analytics, predictive capabilities and automated decision-making systems. In this article, a participatory process model is proposed to reveal the interaction of biomimicry and artificial intelligence technologies in urban planning and design. Increasing research in this field will contribute to the optimisation of planning processes and the realisation of sustainable development goals.

A Regionalization Approach Based on the Comparison of Different Clustering Techniques

For biodiversity conservation and the development of protected areas, it is essential to create strategic plans that ensure the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Biogeography plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts by identifying and categorizing geographic areas (regionalization) that represent different biotas, as well as recognizing patterns in biodiversity distribution. Another application of regionalization is in planning species sampling and inventories. Developing a species list is vital for monitoring and understanding diversity patterns. This study focuses on the Palearctic region, specifically the areas between Morocco, the Iberian Peninsula, and France. Its aim is to compare different clustering algorithms—such as K-means++, DBSCAN, PD-clustering, Infomap, and federated heuristic optimization based on fuzzy clustering—with a reference regionalization, using environmental and soil data. Various spatial contiguity approaches were applied, including the third-degree polynomial model and principal coordinates. The results demonstrated that the hybrid approach offers a robust solution in the construction of the regions and that K-means++ and PDC produced regions with strong spatial similarity to the reference regionalization, closely aligning with the expected number of regions, especially at the biome level. Our study shows that a purely statistical regionalization can approximate a global reference regionalization, making it reproducible.

The Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Environmental Stewardship: Beyond Poverty and Necessity

The persistence of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) among indigenous and local communities is often associated with socio-economic constraints, poverty, and lack of choices. Such a perspective argues against underpinning profound environmental consciousness and sustainable practices that underlie TEK. The paper challenges reductionism—viewing TEK solely as a creation of necessity—and tries to argue that it entails a sophisticated understanding of ecological balance and conservation ethics. Through various examples, the paper exemplifies how TEK contributes to environmental sustainability for biodiversity conservation, management and use of natural resources, and the enhancement of resilience to climatic change—the same elements crucial for culture, tradition, and community living.

Circular product development strategies for sustainable production and consumption based on waste valorization

PurposeThis study aims to propose guidelines for developing circular products based on waste recovery that are aligned with sustainable production and consumption.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review and case studies on circular product development were conducted. In total, 15 companies with products based on waste recovery and aligned with sustainable production and consumption goal were studied.FindingsThe results show the decisions and strategies applied at each stage of the new product development process, including the design for recycling, the use of waste as a raw material for products and the concern for reducing pollution and recovering end-of-life products.Practical implicationsThe cases studied meet the goals of efficient use of natural resources and waste reduction by preventing, reducing, recycling and reusing waste. For practitioners, a set of guidelines is proposed to help companies develop circular products based on waste recovery.Originality/valuePrevious studies have not evaluated the new product development process and circularity from the institutional theory and waste valorization perspectives.

Kontribusi Green Sukuk pada Implementasi Tujuan Pembangunan Keberlanjutan di Indonesia

The main goal of the Islamic financial industry is falah, which is always involved in matters beneficial to the community. The Islamic finance beginning to emphasize broader social responsibility issues, such as environmental concerns. To maintain economic sustainability and protect the environment, the world faces two challenges in an increasingly complex global era. Sukuk generally refers to a certificate that has the same value as a portion or the entirety of assets to obtain returns and services within the ownership of specific assets and projects or special investment activities. SDGs aim to reduce the impact of damage through the emphasis on achieving it through collaboration between countries and sectors. library research Sustainable development not only prioritizes economic growth but also how economic activities can ensure the healthy and non-excessive use of natural resources to achieve optimal results. However, there are several issues that hinder its implementation. In a situation like various factors that hinder sustainable economic growth in Indonesia.

Environmental Efficiency of Municipalities in the Araguaia River Valley in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil: an Approach Via Data Envelopment Analysis

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental efficiency of municipalities located in the Araguaia River Valley, in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, focusing on the relationship between economic development and sustainability, aiming to identify practices that promote the conservation of biodiversity and the reduction of environmental impacts. Theoretical Framework: The text addresses concepts of sustainable development and sustainability, highlighting important distinctions between them. It highlights the relevance of urban planning, in association with the Sustainable Development Goals, as a tool for including environmental factors in promoting environmental quality and the well-being of communities. In this sense, the rational use of natural resources appears to be a preponderant and essential factor in ensuring sustainability and promoting balanced development. Method: This is a qualitative and quantitative approach. The data were obtained through the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics website for the Gross Domestic Product variable and on the Terrabrasilis website for the deforestation variable, involving 25 municipalities in Mato Grosso, in the Araguaia river basin. Based on the data, the R software was used to process the information, using a mathematical model based on Data Envelopment Analysis. Results and Discussion: The results showed a low level of environmental efficiency in the VRS model, with average values of 0.25762 (2017), 0.21655 (2018), 0.36978 (2019), 0.214396 (2020) and 0.28803 (2021). A minority of municipalities were highlighted in environmental efficiency, indicating that they are located on the DEA production frontier, pointing to a balance between environmental protection and economic growth. The success of the municipalities that stood out demonstrates the importance of planning, social mobilization and commitment, it is possible to reverse or minimize the scenario of environmental degradation. Research Implications: The study points to the need for public policies aimed at improving the environmental efficiencies of municipalities that showed lower performance, especially minimizing deforestation. Originality/Value: The originality of the study focuses on the importance of studies aimed at measuring environmental efficiency in the municipalities that make up the cerrado, highlighting the importance of preserving and conserving this biome.

Areas and Resources of the Satureja L. Genus in Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan)

The study of the habitats and resources of 4 species of Satureja: Satureja hortensis L., S. laxiflora K. Koch, S. macrantha C. A. Mey. and S. mutica Fisch. et C. A. Mey. from the Lamiaceae family being a valuable essential oil plant. S. macrantha previously, single specimens were found in the Kyzylkaya and Negram-Dorosham mountains. 2018 we managed to identify the mountains of Darydag of Julfa district. In 2018, we managed to develop the Darydag, then 4 new locations in Mamadein, Keleki, Damir and Lalali mountain in the Ordubad district (1400–2800 m). Here Satureja grandiflora forms hitherto undescribed formations and associations covering vast rocky areas. S. laxiflora and S. mutica are newly identified species. It has been established that this species is a spinning, essential oil, medicinal and anti-erosion plant. We studied environmental conditions, the role in the formation of rock-talus vegetation in the region, economic importance, rational use and protection. We recommend expedient, planned and reasonable use of natural resources, the species of Satureja laxiflora, S. grandiflora, will expand crops, plantations of the cultivated species S. hortensis L.

Agrivoltaic systems towards the European green deal and agricultural policies: a review

Excessive exploitation of natural resources has an environmental impact on ecosystems due to demographic and economic growth, and energy demand. For this reason, world economies have been implementing policy tools to achieve eco-friendly energy growth, minimizing environmental impact. It is necessary to increase Renewable Energies (RE) fraction in terms of electricity supply, improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption in greenhouses as well as in the agricultural sector. Thus, the European Green Deal (EGD) is a sustainable package of measures which, due to the ecological use of natural resources, strengthens the resilience of European food systems. The EGD’s objectives include: ensuring food security, reducing environmental impact, and supporting the farm to fork strategy and energy communities. The aim of this review is to present innovative energy technologies integrated with agrivoltaic systems to produce and utilize energy with eco-friendly methods. In this review, agrivoltaic systems were presented in the EGD perspective, since, as shown by several studies, they increase simultaneously clean energy production and crop yield, avoiding limitations in land use. As agrivoltaic systems produce energy by the installation of PV panels, an overview of PV technology was provided. PV panels can feed electricity to the power grid. Nowadays, since there are many impoverished rural areas which do not have access to electricity, a lot of projects have been developed that utilize power generation from microgrids combined with hybrid systems (e.g., wind and solar energy) to feed agricultural facilities or community buildings.

A Platinum-Graded Green Hospital Building in India during COVID-19 Pandemic: From Planning to Execution and Outcome

Background: A green hospital building has superior qualities over general hospital buildings in terms of energy conservation, use of natural resources, clean indoor air quality, green housekeeping, and other characteristics that improve patient outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations worldwide faced significant challenges and difficulties running hospitals. These challenges motivated the healthcare administration to find possible solutions for possible protocols for the functioning of the hospital. Methods: It was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in north India from March 2020 to Feb 2022. After multiple changes in the fields of committee formation, human resource management, training, setting of the donning area and the doffing area, setting of the patient care areas and the infection control practices, equipment utilization, protocols for the support services, patient status updation to family members, and finally maintaining the patient data for the official purpose. Results: The hospital statistics showed a recovery rate of 81%, a mortality rate of 18%, and average length of stay of 8 days in COVID-19 patient care. Conclusion: The experiences, the challenges learned, and the solutions made to combat this pandemic will be the guide for future pandemics. The green hospital building proved its supremacy in patient outcomes and is recommended by hospital administrators as a future hospital building.

Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia

In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, many land use and land cover changes (LULCC) have occurred during different activities of the populations. Despite its coverage and unwise use of natural resources, these land uses and land covers are facing increasing or decreasing their area coverage. Information derived from land use and land cover change detection is important to land conservation, sustainable development, and management of Natural resources. This purpose of this study is therefore concerned with identifying the change in land use and land cover detection of the Wejic watershed. To identify land cover changes detection; remote sensing data, satellite imagery and image processing techniques had done within two dates of 1998 and 2017 using Land sat TM 30 m resolution images using Arc GIS 10.1. Hence, a field survey was carried out in 2017 to identify the major land cover types in the watershed. Detection Analysis of land use and land cover dynamics were calculated from the selected watershed in Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. These land use types were cultivated, forest, bush, shrub, and homestead lands. Furthermore, a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was developed for both years. The land use and land cover change results indicated that forest, cultivated land, and bush land decreased by 4.4%, 2.2%, and 2.4%, respectively. However, shrub land and homestead increased by 5.5% and 3.6%, respectively. Therefore The change detection analysis using GIS and remote sensing could deliver useful information to understand the seasonal patterns of land use dynamics for planners and decision makers; consequently, sustainable land management planning is possible.

Collective PES Contracts Can Motivate Institutional Creation to Conserve Forests: Experimental Evidence

ABSTRACTIncentives are a widely used tool for addressing deforestation and are often implemented as collective contracts. Local institutions are crucial to the solution of collective action problems associated with forest conservation, but we still have little knowledge of how to encourage institutional creation through policy. Since collective contracts do not eliminate freeriding incentives, we argue that their success hinges on their ability to stimulate the creation of institutions for collective action. To test these ideas, we analyze data from an incentivized lab‐in‐the‐field experimental collective action game played with natural resource users in four developing countries. The experiment simulates management of a common forest, and groups were randomly assigned to a conservation incentive payment condition. We observe how much group members attempt to coordinate on the creation of institutional rules and find experimental evidence that an external incentive program can stimulate the endogenous creation of informal institutions.

Environmental Efficiency of Municipalities in the Araguaia River Valley in The State of Mato Grosso, Brazil: An Approach Via Data Envelopment Analysis

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental efficiency of municipalities located in the Araguaia River Valley, in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, focusing on the relationship between economic development and sustainability, aiming to identify practices that promote the conservation of biodiversity and the reduction of environmental impacts. Theoretical Framework: The text addresses concepts of sustainable development and sustainability, highlighting important distinctions between them. It highlights the relevance of urban planning, in association with the Sustainable Development Goals, as a tool for including environmental factors in promoting environmental quality and the well-being of communities. In this sense, the rational use of natural resources appears to be a preponderant and essential factor in ensuring sustainability and promoting balanced development. Method: This is a qualitative and quantitative approach. The data were obtained through the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics website for the Gross Domestic Product variable and on the Terrabrasilis website for the deforestation variable, involving 25 municipalities in Mato Grosso, in the Araguaia river basin. Based on the data, the R software was used to process the information, using a mathematical model based on Data Envelopment Analysis. Results and Discussion: The results showed a low level of environmental efficiency in the VRS model, with average values ​​of 0.25762 (2017), 0.21655 (2018), 0.36978 (2019), 0.214396 (2020) and 0.28803 (2021). A minority of municipalities were highlighted in environmental efficiency, indicating that they are located on the DEA production frontier, pointing to a balance between environmental protection and economic growth. The success of the municipalities that stood out demonstrates the importance of planning, social mobilization and commitment, it is possible to reverse or minimize the scenario of environmental degradation. Research Implications: The study points to the need for public policies aimed at improving the environmental efficiencies of municipalities that showed lower performance, especially minimizing deforestation. Originality/Value: The originality of the study focuses on the importance of studies aimed at measuring environmental efficiency in the municipalities that make up the cerrado, highlighting the importance of preserving and conserving this biome.