Environmental Challenges最新文献

{"title":"Human ecological analysis of conflict toward using natural resources: Evidence from Iran","authors":"Amir Saghaleini ,&nbsp;Heshmatollah Saadi ,&nbsp;Masoud Bijani","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of nature by humans has always been a source of conflict. This study aimed to conduct a human ecological analysis of conflict in the exploitation of Iran's natural resources. The research is qualitative, applied, and descriptive, using the fuzzy WASPAS method. Twenty-six experts were selected via purposeful snowball sampling. Thirty-seven criteria were identified and categorized into three main criteria: human ecology, attitudes of government and beneficiaries, and conflict reduction solutions. Results indicated that lack of managerial knowledge, inappropriate attitudes toward law enforcement, and mistrust between stakeholders are key conflict drivers. For conflict management, structural coherence, participatory management, and qualified personnel are essential. The findings suggest that selecting capable managers, promoting education, and adopting participatory approaches can reduce conflicts. Policymakers can use these results to mitigate human-nature and inter-stakeholder conflicts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater potential zone mapping using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS for Narshingdi District, Bangladesh","authors":"Umme. Tahera-Tun-Humayra ,&nbsp;Md. Rabiul Islam ,&nbsp;Md. Biplob Hosen ,&nbsp;Zarjes Kader ,&nbsp;Rifat Sharker ,&nbsp;Mahmudul Hasan ,&nbsp;Md. Tareq Aziz ,&nbsp;Manik Miah ,&nbsp;Rokshana Pervin","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global groundwater resources face increasing pressure from overexploitation and climate change, while rising demand for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial use underscores the need for a systematic assessment of aquifer potential. Despite this urgency, agriculturally significant areas such as Narshingdi District, Bangladesh, remain underexplored, with limited data-driven evaluations to guide sustainable groundwater management. This study aims to delineate groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) in Narshingdi District, Bangladesh by employing a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to provide a systematic and data-driven assessment. Nine thematic layers, geology, land use and land cover (LULC), lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, soil properties, slope, roughness, and curvature, were considered and analyzed in this study. Weights for each layer were assigned using the AHP method, and a weighted overlay analysis within the GIS environment was applied to delineate the GWPZ maps. The resulting maps were validated against observed groundwater inventory points using the ROC curve, yielding an accuracy of 88.5%. The analysis classified the study area into five groundwater potential categories: very low (20.9%; 219.5 km²), low (1.2%; 12.5 km²), moderate (68.1%; 714.5 km²), high (9.4%; 98.4 km²), and very high (0.4%; 4.1 km²). The majority of the region falls under moderate potential, indicating a generally fair availability of groundwater, while areas of high and very high potential are limited, highlighting priority zones for sustainable management and development. Overall, the study provides a practical and systematic approach for delineating groundwater potential zones, offering valuable guidance for sustainable groundwater planning and management in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101335"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of land-use forecasting on dust source susceptibility mapping in Iran","authors":"Sima Pourhashemi ,&nbsp;Mahnaz Naemi ,&nbsp;Mahdi Boroughani ,&nbsp;Harry Kambezidis","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study investigates the dynamics of land-use changes and their relationship with dust generation in the semi-arid region of Fars Province. The main objective of this study is to understand how the interactions between land-use patterns and dust-generation intensity affect the environment. Using remote-sensing data and advanced modeling techniques such as CA-Markov and meta-heuristic algorithms, land-use changes and their impact on dust occurrence are predicted for the years 2024, 2050, and 2100. The results show that land-use changes, especially the reduction in agricultural land and increase in bare land, play an important role in the intensification of dust generation. Predictions indicate that by 2100, agricultural land will have decreased significantly, and bare land will have increased sharply. These changes, which are primarily caused by anthropogenic processes and urban development, will lead to the expansion of high-risk dust zones in the area. Modelling shows that Ant colony optimization <strong>(</strong>ACO) is superior to other methods in making proper predictions of these changes, as well as assessing dust risk. The study reveals the relevance of future land-use change prediction to manage the vulnerability of dust sources in Iran's arid and semi-arid regions. The study reveals that future agricultural changes, urbanization, and infrastructure expansion, will directly and prominently influence the intensity and pattern of dust. Understanding such trends can help policymakers carry out adequate management policies that will reduce the negative impact of dust on ecosystem health and air quality. The results of this research, in addition to advancing scientific knowledge of environmental processes, hold out the possibility of developing long-term policies that will ensure public health and natural resource conservation in vulnerable regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101334"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life-Cycle impacts of biochar, MOFs, and biomass adsorbents: A meta-analysis for wastewater and carbon management","authors":"Gemechu Fufa Arfasa ,&nbsp;Zewude Alemayehu Tilahun","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the first quantitative meta-analysis of life-cycle assessment (LCA) data on adsorbent-based wastewater treatment, integrating results from 52 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025. Studies were selected based on explicit inclusion criteria: (i) reporting LCA results of adsorbents applied in wastewater treatment, (ii) providing comparable functional units or sufficient data for standardization, and (iii) covering at least one of the four targeted impact categories. Using standardized functional units (per kg adsorbent and per m³ treated water), we compared the environmental performance of biochar, biomass-derived adsorbents, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) across four impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), water footprint, cumulative energy demand, and carbon sequestration potential. Biochar demonstrated the lowest mean GWP (1.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg), especially when derived from agricultural residues through low-emission pyrolysis, while MOFs exhibited the highest values (up to 30 kg CO₂-eq/kg) due to energy-intensive precursor synthesis. Biomass-based adsorbents occupied an intermediate range (2.5–3.2 kg CO₂-eq/kg), with variation linked to feedstock type and activation methods. Water and energy use followed the same pattern, with MOFs requiring up to 1,200 L/kg and 80 MJ/kg, compared to &lt;60 L/kg and &lt;6 MJ/kg for biochar. End-of-life modeling further revealed that biochar can sequester up to 2.4 t CO₂-eq/ha/year when incorporated into soils, exceeding the benefits of energy recovery from MOFs or biomass ash. These findings highlight biochar’s relative advantages for carbon management and low-impact wastewater treatment, while underscoring the need for harmonized LCA protocols and region-specific data to optimize adsorbent deployment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101331"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forest expansion and glacial retreat in the Central Himalaya indicated by past observations and future projections","authors":"Kishor Prasad Bhatta ,&nbsp;Om Mishra ,&nbsp;Dinesh Prasad Joshi ,&nbsp;Bimal Kumar Yadav ,&nbsp;Anisha Aryal ,&nbsp;Santosh Ayer ,&nbsp;Dirk Hölscher","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use and land cover (LULC) changes, driven by climate variability and human activity, are increasingly threatening the ecological stability of the Himalaya, yet their long-term dynamics remain poorly understood. We address this gap by analyzing past LULC transitions and projecting future changes in the Annapurna Conservation Area from 2000 to 2050. The study area covers 7629 km², considerable elevational variation (800 to &gt;8000 m), and variable precipitation regimes (300 to 3500 mm yr^-1). We evaluated LULC changes over two decades (2000 - 2020) based on Landsat data and simulate future patterns for 2030 and 2050 using the Cellular Automata – Artificial Neural Networks (CA–ANN) model, integrating spatial drivers and climate data. For the year 2000, a maximum likelihood supervised classification indicated that forest covered 10%, settlement 2%, barren land 65%, snow/glacier 15%, cropland 6%, and waterbody 2% of the area. In the following two decades, forest first declined (-1.2%) and then strongly increased (+3%), settlement area doubled, and cropland was lost. Snow/glacier cover (-1.7%) and waterbody (-2%) declined significantly, while barren land expanded. Under both Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP245 and SSP585), projections suggest continued forest (+4.2 to +4.3%) and settlement (+1.5% to +1.7%) increase and ongoing declines in snow/glacier (-4.7 to -4.9%), waterbody (-0.4%), and cropland (-0.6 to -0.7%) by 2050. These findings highlight the strong human and climate-driven transformations in the region, underscoring the urgency of actions towards climate protection and sustainable resource stewardship for ecological stability in the Himalaya.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101332"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transport and discharge of solid waste by measuring static angles","authors":"J.L. Ojeda Alvis ,&nbsp;L. Binda","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101330","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101330","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article presents an experimental study of the static angle (θs), defined as the inclination at which 50 % of a municipal solid waste (MSW) sample begins to slide. This angle marks the transition from static to dynamic friction and serves as a measurable indicator of surface–material interaction and flow resistance. The study examines θs for different MSW components (wood, metal, plastic, pruning waste, and glass) tested on two different surfaces: acrylic, used as a reference, and rubber, commonly found in waste sorting equipment. Both individual and collective tests were performed, with special attention to the effects of added water mass (AWM).</div><div>A custom tilting-platform setup combined with image processing was employed to monitor particle motion and determine θs for each material-surface combination. The method implemented quantifies changes in θs as a function of moisture content, providing a proxy for blockage potential in waste-handling systems. Results indicate a consistent increase in θs with moisture content; for example, on acrylic, the average θs for wood rose from 26.2° to 46.2° as AWM increased from 0 % to 2.5 %. By comparison, θs for glass rose from 13.8° to 42.0° as AWM increased from 0 % to 5.0 %. Higher AWM levels led to greater material adhesion: in the case of wood on acrylic at 5.0 % AWM, 100 % of the sample remained immobile, preventing further testing. On rubber, a fraction of wood samples (3.0 %) remained adhered at a low 2.5 % AWM.</div><div>These findings provide quantitative evidence of how surface type and moisture affect waste mobility, supporting the design of discharge slopes and transport systems in MSW facilities. The approach can guide practical strategies to optimize material flow and reduce blockages under different operating and environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling sustainable solutions for municipal waste management through machine learning","authors":"Achara Taweesan ,&nbsp;Thammarat Koottatep ,&nbsp;Thongchai Kanabkaew ,&nbsp;Rawintra Eamrat ,&nbsp;Tatchai Pussayanavin ,&nbsp;Chongrak Polprasert","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing volume and complexity of municipal solid waste (MSW) in rapidly urbanizing regions pose significant environmental and public health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite efforts to improve municipal solid waste management (MSWM), many cities continue to rely on fragmented approaches that fail to ensure safe disposal and resource efficiency. This study addresses a critical research gap by adopting machine learning (ML) across the entire MSWM chain, including collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, while aligning the outcomes with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) on safely managed waste. Using data from 460 cities across nine Asian countries, the J48 decision tree algorithm was applied to classify MSWM practices as safe or unsafe. The model achieved 73 % training and 67 % validation accuracy, highlighting key determinants of safe management, including budget support, number of operators, and availability of collection vehicles. Findings reveal that 70 % of MSW in surveyed Thai cities is unsafely managed, with inadequate funding (below US$ 5 per ton) strongly linked to poor outcomes. This study contributes a transparent, interpretable ML model for data-driven decision-making and offers actionable insights for enhancing operational efficiency and advancing SDG11 targets through improved investment and resource allocation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmentally friendly, cellulose-based hydrogel with underwater superoleophobicity for high flux oil/water separation under harsh environments (acidic, alkaline, and saline)","authors":"Ali SaadatiSehrigh,&nbsp;Bita Ayati","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101329","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101329","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing incidence of oil spills and the discharge of oily industrial wastewater necessitate efficient oil-water separation technologies, particularly in extreme environmental conditions. In this study, cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose hydrogels were synthesized and applied as coatings on stainless steel meshes to address this challenge. The coated meshes demonstrated high separation efficiencies (&gt;98 %) for toluene, hexane, gasoline, and olive oil in acidic, alkaline, and saline environments. Remarkable reusability was also observed, with efficiencies remaining above 97.3 % after 20 separation cycles. Moreover, a high flux of 190,728 L/m²·h was achieved, and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of a uniform, thin hydrogel layer. Wettability assessments revealed superhydrophilicity in air (0° contact angle) and underwater superoleophobicity (oil contact angles &gt;153°), which are critical for effective separation. Optimization studies revealed that the optimal formulation consists of a 1:2 ratio of PVA to cellulose, 5 % glutaraldehyde, and PVA with a molecular weight of 145,000. These findings highlight the potential of polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose hydrogel-coated meshes for robust and scalable oil-water separation in harsh environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101329"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tourism-induced natural resource conflict: The case of Kakum National Park, Ghana","authors":"Sabina Appiah-Boateng ,&nbsp;Harriet M.D. Potakey ,&nbsp;Janet Serwah Boateng","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101328","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101328","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kakum National Park is a flagship ecosystem in Ghana, designated as a tourism destination of international repute. Tourism serves as an essential economic industry that promotes economic expansion, cross-cultural communication, and international collaboration. Nevertheless, the interaction of several elements frequently results in disputes in the communities around natural reserves, defining the relationship between tourism and natural resources. Situated on the edge of these reserves, local communities are both a source of benefits and conflict in the tourism-natural resource dynamic. This research investigates the natural resource-induced conflict, focusing on the nature, causes and actors of the conflict. The study used a qualitative approach and adopted an interpretive analysis of participants' experiences, underpinned by the frustration-aggression and relative deprivation theories. The findings described the tourism-induced conflict as latent, nonviolent, and issue-based, but laden with underlying structural tensions<strong>.</strong> The study discovered that power dynamics, perceived lack of transparency, lack of participation, unfulfilled promises, perceived deprivation of livelihood, and uneven distribution of resources acted together and differently to create conflict among the stakeholders. The actors of conflict were categorised into individuals, groups and institutional actors, comprising farmers, landowners, community members, youth, Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust (GHCT), Community Advisory Committee (CAC), the district assembly, forestry commission, traditional authority and rangers. These actors shared unique and differing interests, positions, and needs that fueled the protracted conflict. The study recommends fair resource distribution and conflict resolution mechanisms to address the complex dynamics critical to the tourist industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Landslide susceptibility mapping in Al-Khawabi river basin, Tartous, Syria: An integrated approach of bivariate-statistical modelling and geospatial technology","authors":"Hazem Ghassan Abdo","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101327","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101327","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landslides are among the most common and hazardous natural disasters in mountainous environments, posing a significant threat to environmental sustainability and urban and human development. The risk becomes more severe in areas where geological, climatic, and human factors intersect, as is the case in the mountainous western region of Syria, which experiences recurrent landslides resulting in substantial damage to infrastructure, property, and threats to local populations. This study aims to produce a Landslide Susceptibility Map for the Khawabi River Basin in western Syria using spatial analysis techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A total of 33 documented landslide events were collected and divided into two subsets: 70 % for training to build the predictive model, and 30 % for testing to validate the results. Ten conditioning factors that are believed to influence landslide occurrence were selected for spatial analysis: lithology, elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, distance to faults, distance to roads, distance to rivers, land use/land cover (LULC), and the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Spatial modeling and mapping were performed using advanced GIS tools, and the study area was classified into different susceptibility zones ranging from low to very high. The results revealed that areas with very high landslide susceptibility are primarily concentrated along the steep eastern mountain slopes, where a combination of geological, topographical, and anthropogenic factors converge. The validation process using the testing dataset showed a high predictive accuracy of 91.2 %, confirming the reliability and robustness of the applied model. This study highlights the importance of using remote sensing and GIS technologies for mapping natural hazard risks, providing accurate spatial information that can support landslide risk management and sustainable urban planning in western Syria. The study recommends integrating the findings into land-use policies and increasing public awareness about the importance of disaster risk reduction related to landslides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 101327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}