Environmental Challenges最新文献

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Climate-induced potential driver of water conflicts over natural resource and the role of land use and land cover change in the Lake Chad catchment” [Environmental Challenges, Volume 22, March 2026, 101422]","authors":"Samuel Che Nde , Lobina Gertrude Palamuleni , Sammy Kipyego Bett , Gabriel Sanjo Aruwajoye , Arabi Mouhaman","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101450","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 101450"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148177993","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":"Corrigendum to “From engines to orbits: Unveiling the hidden CO and NO2 footprint of vehicle exhaust on satellite retrievals through machine-learning” [Environmental Challenges, Volume 22, March 2026, 101431]","authors":"Cut Dona Kordelia, Haibo Chen, Ye Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101451","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 101451"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178564","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":"Corrigendum to “Remote sensing assessment of the world’s largest mangrove reforestation program (Senegal, 2009–2012): Implications for carbon crediting and future restoration efforts dedicated to climate change offsetting” [Environmental Challenges, Vol 23 (2026) 101496]","authors":"Julien Andrieu, Safietou Soumaré, Matthieu Vignal, Florent Lombard, Alizée Gandon, Marie-Christine Cormier-Salem, Ababacar Fall","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101505","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 101505"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178563","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":"Corrigendum to “When less burning does not mean cleaner air: decoupling of burned area, fire-related PM2.5 emissions, and population exposure in West Africa” [Environmental Challenges, Volume 22 (2026), 101424]","authors":"Boris Ouattara , N′Datchoh Touré , Jean Danumah , Tianjia Liu , Florent Mouillot","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101487","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101487","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 101487"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178562","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 potential of collected rainwater as an alternative water resource for domestic purpose to mitigate groundwater overexploitation in terms of water quality and people’s acceptance","authors":"Van Cam Pham ,&nbsp;Johannes Ho ,&nbsp;Jonas Bauer ,&nbsp;Nicolas Börsig ,&nbsp;Felix Dörr ,&nbsp;Tran Viet Hoan ,&nbsp;Elisabeth Eiche ,&nbsp;Andreas Tiehm ,&nbsp;Stefan Norra","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ca Mau province, located in the south of the Mekong Delta, is strongly affected by land subsidence and seawater intrusion. Overexploitation of groundwater has been highlighted as a significant driving factor for these processes. As groundwater currently plays a crucial role in the local water supply, this study examines the potential of rainwater as an alternative water source for domestic use to reduce groundwater extraction and contribute to ensure the safe and sustainable water resource for public use (SDG 6). The present study follows a multi-disciplinary evaluation of the potential of rain water as an alternative water resource, covering an assessment of (i) social perception of rainwater usage, (ii) rainwater availability as well as water quality analyses of rainwater stored under various conditions. For this, a combined survey and sampling campaign throughout Ca Mau province was conducted in two main phases between 2019 and 2022. The survey includes a questionnaire which was completed by 473 participants together with in-depth interviews in several selected locations. Complementary, time series of precipitation were analyzed to determine the potentially available rainwater quantity. Stored rainwater samples were collected and analyzed according to their quality based on physical parameters, chemical parameters using ICP-MS and Ion Chromatography with 49 water samples and biological parameters using the IDEXX Colilert® system and MALDI-TOF-MS with 75 water samples. Based on the results, factors that could affect the quality of rainwater were examined. The results show that in some rainwater samples, threshold values of the standards from Vietnamese regulation were exceeded for some parameters, raising the issue of rainwater treatment before use. The questionnaire revealed that rainwater is considered as a potential water source which can replace groundwater for domestic purposes by participants. Despite concerns about rainwater storage during the dry season, public acceptance of using rainwater is generally high. However, the government’s interest in communicating information about current environmental issues as well as support in guiding rainwater storage and economic support during the transition process is an issue that people are concerned about. The results of this study provide new insights to further identify potential pilot sites in Ca Mau for rainwater harvesting as an alternative to groundwater extraction, as well as to design concepts for optimizing the use of rainwater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101443"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395635","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":"Evaluating the sustainability of Sphagnum moss harvesting or farming versus horticultural peat using a multi-criteria decision framework","authors":"Jaakko Karvonen ,&nbsp;Tanja Myllyviita","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As horticultural peat availability declines, alternative growing media are increasingly needed. <em>Sphagnum</em> moss has emerged as a high-quality substitute, yet its sustainability has not been thoroughly assessed. This study uses multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to compare the sustainability of <em>Sphagnum</em> moss and horticultural peat. <em>Sphagnum</em> was evaluated either as harvested from natural sites with replanting or as cultivated on peatland farms. A panel of stakeholders and researchers assigned weights to the criteria, with biodiversity considered most important (39.78 points), followed by climate (26.81), costs (18.86) and employment (14.55). The results show that <em>Sphagnum</em> harvesting with replanting and <em>Sphagnum</em> farming achieved the highest overall sustainability scores (67.88–77.72 points), while harvesting without replanting scored lower (28.52–49.14). Horticultural peat received the lowest score (18.86). Based on these results, regrowth of <em>Sphagnum</em> after harvesting is essential to ensure sustainable harvesting, and <em>Sphagnum</em> farming offers a renewable and sustainable option for growing media production. Overall, <em>Sphagnum</em> moss represents a promising and more sustainable alternative to peat in horticulture, but further research and optimization are essential to realize its full potential. As the <em>Sphagnum</em> industry is still developing, there is substantial potential to improve field practices, particularly regarding harvesting techniques and regrowth management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101445"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395637","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":"Floristic diversity, carrying capacity and local management of coastal rangelands in a context of climatic variability and urbanization: a case study from West Africa","authors":"B.S.C.M. Ahouangan ,&nbsp;A.D.P. Lesse ,&nbsp;K.V. Salako ,&nbsp;M.S. Toyi ,&nbsp;M.R.B. Houinato","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101434","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101434","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal ecosystems are under pressure due to climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, especially in pastoralism proned areas. This study combined vegetation census (phytosociological surveys and biomass cuts in 120 and 40 plots, respectively) and socio-economic surveys of cattle breeders (<em>n</em> = 115) to (i) assess vegetation structure and influencing environmental factors, (ii) determine vegetation groups and their carrying capacity, and (iii) characterize the local uses and management of the rangelands. The study was carried out in four coastal communes (Abomey-Calavi, Grand-Popo, Ouidah and Sèmè-Podji). We used both univariate and multivariate descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. We recorded, 347 species from 252 genera and 88 families, the largest floristic composition being observed in Abomey-Calavi and Ouidah. Relief was the main determinant of the variation of floristic composition. The plot ordination led to three main groups (G1 dominated by Acacia sieberiana and Aristida adscensionis, G2 dominated by Imperata cylindrica and Zanthoxyllum zanthoxyloides, and G3 dominated by Cocos nucifera and Indigofera spicata). Phytomass (2.06 ± 0.68 t DM/ha - 2.48 ± 0.63 t DM/ha) and carrying capacity (0.29 - 0.39 UBT/ha/year) differed significantly between the three groups and the four communes. The typology of breeders led to three clusters, namely familial agro-pastoral farmers (6%), typical agro-pastoral farmers (58%) and co-managed agro-pastoral farmers (36%). Herd composition, rangelands management, and adaptation strategies also differed markedly across the three clusters. However, the observed management methods are not effective for coastal range management and an integrative climate-smart management scheme is needed for sustainable pastoralism in the coastal region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101434"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395639","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":"Mapping and connectivity analysis of thermal comfort zones in Shanghai using a modified temperature–humidity index","authors":"Hongchao Xu ,&nbsp;Xiao Xiao ,&nbsp;Peng Zeng ,&nbsp;Yue Che","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of sustained global warming and rapid urbanization, extreme summer heat and humidity increasingly intensify urban heat stress in metropolitan environments. This study develops a remote-sensing–based framework to generate city-scale screening maps of relative hot–humid exposure in Shanghai (summer 2022) using a modified temperature–humidity index (MTHI). The resulting surface is further translated into structural and connectivity-based spatial indicators through morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and circuit theory (CT) modeling. Areas classified as thermal comfort zones (i.e., relatively lower hot–humid exposure under the MTHI framework) accounted for 71.3 % of the urban area, representing spatial contrasts in thermal–humidity conditions rather than absolute physiological comfort. MSPA and circuit-based analyses revealed a structured, network-like organization of these relative cooling-favorable areas, characterized by a core–edge backbone consisting of 13 source areas, 17 potential corridors, and 39 pinch-point locations. These elements highlight how a limited number of structural features may influence the spatial continuity of cooling-favorable conditions across the city. The proposed framework provides hypothesis-generating spatial indicators of thermal comfort organization by integrating relative exposure mapping with connectivity analysis using publicly available data and standardized workflows. This approach offers an exploratory planning-support tool that can assist preliminary screening of cooling-sensitive areas in hot–humid cities, while requiring further validation before operational decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101441"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395640","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":"Can urban Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) generate effective ecological and management outcomes?","authors":"Julie Marty-Gastaldi ,&nbsp;Charalampos Dimitriadis ,&nbsp;Nathalie Lazaric ,&nbsp;Benoit Dérijard","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2026.101406","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Mediterranean Sea, a hotspot of biodiversity, is impacted by the urbanisation of its coastlines. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a vital role in safeguarding these urban regions and preserving their marine biodiversity. However, despite the urgent need to protect these populated areas, implementation of MPAs under such conditions remains challenging in terms of policy, financing and governance. Twelve MPAs with different urban scores were assessed in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Our objectives were to compare urban and non-urban MPAs in terms of management performance and ecological effectiveness. We analysed the effect of urbanisation on the management of MPAs and then, the effect of urbanisation and management on the variability of ecological outcomes. Our findings were the following: (1) There is no significant difference in management effectiveness between urban and non-urban MPAs, meaning that MPAs can be effectively managed in both contexts; (2) Urban MPAs are ecologically effective, with at least twice as much fish biomass inside the protected areas as outside; and (3) The implementation of an effective management strategy depends on many different factors, such as staff capacity and access to funding. This study thus provides initial insights into the effectiveness of urban MPAs, showing that they have the potential to be managed effectively, with favourable ecological outcomes. In the context of the 30 × 30 global objective, the framework of urban MPAs can serve as a model for developing new MPAs and promoting policies that encourage action, even in degraded urban ecosystems in need of protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101406"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977741","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":"Integrating machine learning and drone technology for precision agriculture: A smart solution for automated irrigation and crop management","authors":"Sayibu Abdul-Gafaar ,&nbsp;Peter Osei Boamah ,&nbsp;Jacqueline Onumah ,&nbsp;Frank Sam ,&nbsp;Raymond Gyaang ,&nbsp;Daniel Appiah-Essuman ,&nbsp;Dennis Redeemer Korda ,&nbsp;Alberta Mawunyo Buadi ,&nbsp;Linus Tabari ,&nbsp;Fortunatus Aabangbio Wulnye","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agriculture is vital to Ghana’s economy, contributing approximately 20 % to GDP and employing 45 % of the workforce. However, the agricultural sector’s reliance on rain-fed farming, particularly in northern Ghana, exposes it to climate variability, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts which lead to chronic food insecurity and economic losses. With only 2 % of farmland irrigated, traditional methods exacerbate water scarcity and low productivity. This study proposes an innovative machine learning (ML) and drone-based precision irrigation system to optimize water use, enhance crop yields, and build climate resilience in northern Ghana. The study deployed internet of things (IoT) soil sensors, weather forecasts, and autonomous drones across 150 smallholder farms in Tamale, Bolgatanga, and Wa through a mixed-methods approach. A random forest ML model predicted irrigation needs, while drones delivered targeted water applications. Results showed a 50.6 % increase in crop yields and a 30–40 % reduction in water usage compared to traditional methods. However, stakeholder interviews and factor analysis identified barriers such as high costs, limited digital literacy, and policy gaps. The study recommends government subsidies, farmer training, and regulatory reforms to facilitate adoption. This scalable model contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 6, and 13) and offers a replicable framework for other arid regions in sub-Saharan Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798441","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}