Environmental Challenges最新文献

{"title":"Impacts of climate change on the businesses of mountain guides in the Drakensberg","authors":"Gavin E.C. Heath","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this article was to survey a select group of mountain guides operating in the Drakensberg, a subtropical highland climate area, in South Africa. This was to ascertain ways in which the group participants had noticed the effects of climate change and how these effects had affected their businesses over the last ten to twenty years (2003–2013–2023). There is growing literature on mountain guiding and climate change, primarily from the Western Alps of Europe but also including South and North America. Literature on mountain guides and climate change in Africa, by comparison, is very sparse indeed (this is the research gap). The literature focuses primarily on the observations of climate change and its effects, and the coping mechanisms employed by the guides. The methodology was to contact the guides and ascertain their observations of the effects climate change and how they were being forced to adapt their businesses. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire and follow-up questions. Following review, a number of other questions were posed to the guides. Research analysis comprised a thematic analysis of the questionnaires, to determine key issues and trends. The knowledge of climate change effects and the changed modus operandi of the guides did improve understanding of a tourism sector that is heavily dependent on a stable and relatively risk-free mountain environment. While the effects of climate change in the Drakensberg cannot be compared to those of heavily glaciated mountain environments, they nonetheless are occurring and affecting mountain-guiding businesses. Effects of climate change appear to be centred around the severity and timing of summer storms, increased erosion and less snow in gullies in winter. Recovery steps and initiatives were focused upon as pointers towards establishing a more resilient economic sub-sector. A number of recommendations regarding further research have been included.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143807671","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":"Risk assessment of heavy metals and pharmaceutically active compounds in river water from the central region of Peru","authors":"María Custodio ,&nbsp;Richard Peñaloza ,&nbsp;Heidi De la Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and heavy metals can be released from various sources into water bodies and cause water contamination and possible damage to aquatic biota. This study evaluated the risk of heavy metals and PhACs in river water from the central region of Peru. Water samples were collected from the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Mantaro, Chia, Cunas, Shullcas and Miraflores rivers, according to the method of analysis. The highest levels of most PhACs, including caffeine (4.15e+03 ng/L) and acetaminophen (2.64e+03 ng/L) were recorded at the Shullcas River. The level of arsenic (1.50e₋02 mg/L) in the Mantaro River and zinc (1.36e₋01 mg/L) in the Shullcas exceeded the safety limits for drinking water (0.01 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L, respectively). Apical hazard ratings (HQ) indicated potential risks. Nicotine and caffeine in the Shullcas River reached maximum HQs of 0.1247 and 0.3459, respectively. Copper represented the highest risk among heavy metals, with a maximum HQ of 2.015 in the Mantaro River. Cluster analysis grouped PhACs, and heavy metals and principal component analysis (PCA) differentiated ecotoxicological effects on organisms and rivers. The detection of elevated concentrations of carbamazepine, caffeine, copper and arsenic, exceeding safety thresholds, underscores the urgent need to improve water resource management practices in the region. Therefore, the high apical HQ values in these rivers suggest a significant risk to aquatic biota, especially to sensitive species such as crustaceans and fish. The detection of elevated concentrations of carbamazepine, caffeine, copper and arsenic, which exceed safety thresholds, underscores the urgent need to improve water resource management practices in the region. Therefore, the high apical HQ values in these rivers suggest a significant risk to aquatic biota, especially to sensitive species such as crustaceans and fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143807670","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":"Soil organic carbon credits from turf and clover planting beneath solar panels","authors":"Michiyuki Yagi,&nbsp;Shunsuke Managi","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although Japan's forests cover approximately two-thirds of its land area and offer potential for improved management, new large-scale afforestation efforts face substantial constraints, highlighting the need for alternative methods to enhance soil organic carbon. This study investigates whether planting turf and clover beneath solar panels can increase soil carbon and reduce erosion. Over two years in Okayama Prefecture, seeds and a binder solution containing fiber and fertilizer were applied to bare ground. While three measurement methods were tested, the loss on ignition method was selected for its simplicity. Analysis at 24 sampling sites revealed measurable carbon gains in the surface soil, estimated at approximately 3.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare per year. These findings suggest that under-panel vegetation could be a viable option for climate mitigation in Japan's constrained land-use context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101153"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143820470","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":"Green synthesis of zero-valent iron nanoparticles from cape gooseberry (physalis peruviana l.) Biomass for oil spill remediation","authors":"Amina Nalweyiso ,&nbsp;Christine Betty Nagawa ,&nbsp;Emel Yildiz ,&nbsp;Serkan Uzman ,&nbsp;Joshua Wanyama ,&nbsp;John Baptist Kirabira ,&nbsp;Ahmed Zziwa ,&nbsp;Farad Sagala ,&nbsp;Patrick Ssebugere ,&nbsp;Solomon Omwoma ,&nbsp;Christine Kyarimpa ,&nbsp;Nicholas Kiggundu ,&nbsp;Isa Kabenge","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study explores eco-friendly synthesis of zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) using Cape gooseberry fruit, leaf or husk extracts as reducing agents for iron (III) chloride (0.5 M, 0.1 M or 0.01 M) precursor in a 2:1 ratio under sonication. The nZVI were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Zetasizer analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Batch remediation experiments for 1 ml, 5 ml, or 10 ml of diesel in 100 ml of deionized water were performed using 0.33 g of nZVI. The highest quantity of nZVI was obtained from 0.5 M FeCl₃ and fruit extract. FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed that Cape gooseberry polyphenols reduced and stabilized the nZVI, while XRD indicated a crystalline alpha-iron core with iron oxide shells. SEM imaging revealed agglomeration in nZVI from fruit and leaf extracts, while husk extract nZVI showed uniform size and porosity. Zytasizer analysis showed nZVI from fruit extract had diameters under 100 nm, while leaf and husk extracts nZVI were slightly over 100 nm. Zeta potentials were -29.48 mV (fruit), -33.62 mV (leaf), and -33.5 mV (husk). BET analysis showed husk extract nZVI had the highest surface area. The synthesized nZVI achieved diesel remediation efficiencies of 94.3 % (fruit), 94.3 % (leaf), and 94.6 % (husk) demonstrating successful synthesis of nZVI for diesel contamination cleanup. In addition to being a waste material, husks are advantageous over the fruits and leaves as feedstock for nZVI synthesis due to their superior uniformity and surface area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143823356","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":"What drives rice farmers away from straw burning? Evidence from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam","authors":"Ong Quoc Cuong ,&nbsp;Matty Demont ,&nbsp;Isabelita M. Pabuayon ,&nbsp;Dinah Pura T. Depositario","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Asian mega deltas are critical for food security since they are among the most productive regions for rice cultivation globally. However, this comes at the expense of their environment. Rice growing produces straw, which is frequently burned, resulting in considerable atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gases. Previous research in the Mekong Delta has suggested that policymakers can incentivize rice farmers to transition from straw burning to sustainable straw management practices by creating an enabling environment to support farmers in achieving economies of scale through collective governance of straw management and mechanization of straw collecting and processing. However, little is known about the drivers of rice straw burning in the Mekong Delta. To address this gap, we surveyed 543 rice farmers in four provinces in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the determinants of the adoption of alternative straw management practices. The survey results indicate that straw burning is practiced by 45–84 % of rice farmers, depending on the season. The results from the model reveal that straw burning peaks in the Winter-Spring cropping season in An Giang province and is more likely to be practiced by larger or contract farms, while sustainable straw management practices are more frequently adopted by wealthier households or farms that receive agricultural extension services. These findings confirm the importance of agricultural extension programs in achieving economies of scale in sustainable straw management. Policymakers can leverage and scale the adoption of sustainable straw management through public extension programs and by encouraging companies to govern and support these practices through private extension in their production contracts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143814796","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":"Agrochemical packaging waste characteristics and disposal practices: Evidence from small-scale off-season durian farmers in southern Thailand","authors":"Panatda Pibul ,&nbsp;Siriuma Jawjit","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Off-season fruit production enhances crop yield to meet market demand; however, it heavily depends on agrochemicals, leading to considerable agrochemical packaging waste that poses environmental risks if not effectively managed. Little is known about agrochemical packaging waste, also known as hazardous waste, which is generated during the off-season. This study examined the generation and disposal of empty agrochemical packaging from durians, a high-value tropical fruit, during the off-season in Thailand, the leading global durian producer. We found that 108 different agrochemicals were used in off-season durian production, resulting in a total wasted agrochemical packaging rate of 0.44 kg farmer⁻¹ <em>y</em>⁻¹. Most of the wasted agrochemical packaging consisted of 1-liter plastic bottles of insecticides, which the World Health Organization classified as class II (highly hazardous) and class III (moderately hazardous) waste. In addition, the majority of agrochemical packages used for off-season durian farming were not properly managed by farmers. Specifically, 32.6 % were disposed of unsafely in the field, while 67.2 % were sold to informal waste collectors without undergoing triple rinsing. Based on these findings, it is essential for all relevant stakeholders, especially agrochemical vendors, to prioritize educating and promoting the safe management of empty agrochemical containers through existing market communication to minimize the environmental health risks associated with improperly handled agrochemical packaging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143807663","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":"Unraveling social-ecological constraints to the adoption of CMD-resistant cassava varieties in Thailand","authors":"Chaiteera Panpakdee ,&nbsp;Khuansuda Khanbut ,&nbsp;Anan Polthanee","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) presents a critical challenge to cassava production in Thailand, leading to substantial yield reductions and threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite the availability and documented agronomic benefits of CMD-resistant cassava varieties, their adoption remains limited. This study employs the Social-Ecological Adoption Framework (SEAF) to systematically examine the social-ecological factors influencing adoption decisions among 359 farmers in Chaiyaphum Province. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the results, significant at the 0.05 level, indicate that household income, production costs, farmers’ knowledge of CMD, access to soft loans, and peer influence are key factors shaping adoption behavior. These findings highlight the necessity for integrated financial, educational, and institutional interventions to enhance the uptake of CMD-resistant varieties, fostering more sustainable cassava production systems in Thailand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological impacts of recreational transformation and war on bird communities in the Siverskyi Donets river floodplain: diversity, synanthropization, and restoration strategies","authors":"Tatiana V. Shupova ,&nbsp;Roman I. Kratenko","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the diversity, structure, and ecological changes in bird communities along the Siverskyi Donets river and its surrounding recreational areas, focusing on the impacts of recreational transformation. It aims to assess how these changes affect bird community composition, α- and β-diversity, synanthropization levels, and ecological balance. Additionally, the study compares the effects of recreational and post-war habitat destruction on bird communities and suggests strategies for habitat restoration after the war.</div><div>We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explore the relationship between bird community diversity and the level of recreational transformation along a biotope gradient: floodplain oak forest – tourist bases – park. The negative impact of recreational pressure increases along this gradient, with average bird density rising from 2.83±0.48 pairs/km² in the oak forest to 3.82±0.90 pairs/km² in the park. At the same time, species richness drops from 33 to 22, synanthropization values increase from 0.67 to 0.86, and α-diversity and community balance decrease. We predict that if habitats are not completely destroyed by war, bird communities will respond similarly to the combined pressures of habitat destruction and disturbance from military activities, as they do to recreational pressure. Following the war on Ukraine, we recommend establishing a continuous network of forest remnants, planting multi-species, multi-layered vegetation, creating artificial nests and shelters for birds, and preserving ruderal patches as breeding and feeding grounds. Collaboration among biological, social scientists, and conservation organizations is essential to restore Ukraine's ecosystems and biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the environmental impacts of hard coastal engineering structures on groundwater salinity and salinity intrusion: Insights from the Marawila Coastal Zone, Sri Lanka","authors":"Dinusha Wijerathne ,&nbsp;R.S.M. Samarasekara ,&nbsp;Niranji Satanarachchi ,&nbsp;Meththika Vithanage ,&nbsp;H.M.A. Lakmal","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal erosion and groundwater salinity intrusion pose significant threats to beaches and their socio-economic values. Hard coastal engineering structures are commonly implemented to mitigate erosion but can inadvertently exacerbate the groundwater salinization. This study investigates the severity and drivers of groundwater salinity intrusion, focusing on the impact of hard coastal engineering structures on groundwater salinity in the Marawila coastal area, Sri Lanka. Marawila coastal area has been managed using hard coastal engineering structures since 2010 and is currently experiencing groundwater salinity issues. Groundwater electric conductivity (EC) was measured in 100 shallow wells during monsoon and non-monsoon periods and spatially analyzed using ArcGIS. Twenty-three borehole tests were conducted perpendicular to coastal protection measures to assess the landward variation of groundwater EC. Additionally, sea level, tide level, rainfall, significant wave height and soil particle size distribution data were analyzed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture coastal users’ perceptions on salinity intrusion. The findings reveal that rainfall has a significant impact on groundwater salinity intrusion. The minimal rainfall, coupled with higher wave activity, significantly increased the groundwater EC. Hard coastal engineering structures were found to elevate groundwater salinity by enhancing wave setup, while sea level and tide levels have a minimal impact. Rising groundwater salinity has affected household water security, increasing dependence on purchased drinking water and leading to financial burdens. The findings highlight the need for integrated coastal management strategies that address salinity intrusion alongside erosion control. Beach nourishment emerges as a potentially sustainable alternative, provided its cost and durability are manageable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adoption of conservation agriculture practices and its impacts on yields and incomes: Evidence from smallholder maize farmers in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam","authors":"Mai Tien Huy ,&nbsp;Antonio Jesus A. Quilloy ,&nbsp;Mai Thanh Cuc ,&nbsp;Mai Thanh Huong ,&nbsp;Dang Nam Phuong ,&nbsp;Tran Manh Hai","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Farmers' livelihoods and environmental sustainability are critical concerns in Vietnamese agriculture, where conventional practices such as intensive tillage and excessive use of chemical inputs have led to soil degradation. Conservation agriculture practices (CAPs) have been promoted as a sustainable solution to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and increase farm income. However, research on the adoption and impacts of CAPs in Vietnam remains limited. This study aims to identify the determinants of CAPs adoption and assess its impacts on maize yields and net income in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. The analysis is based on survey data from 400 maize-farming households. A multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) framework is employed to address selection bias. The findings indicate that the joint adoption of CAPs is facilitated by education of the household heads, total farmland area, farmers’ access to credit, interactions with extension agents, training on CAPs, proximity to cooperatives, participation in farmers' groups, and plot-specific characteristics. The impact analysis reveals that adopting CAPs—either individually or in combination—significantly improves maize yields and net income. The benefits are most pronounced when multiple practices are implemented simultaneously, underscoring the synergistic effects of CAPs. These results suggest that promoting the combined adoption of CAPs should be prioritized in the region. Policymakers and development practitioners are advised to focus on improving access to credit, strengthening extension services, expanding targeted training programs, fostering the formation of farmer groups, and raising farmers' awareness of their farmland characteristics and the benefits of CAPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}