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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2022) | Viewed by 28393

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Dr. Rui Manuel de Sousa Fragoso

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Center for Advanced Studies in Management and Economics, University of Évora, 2, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: supply chain management; agribusiness; entrepreneurship and innovation; natural and environmental economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Carlos Alberto Falcão Marques

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Guest Editor

Department of Management, Centre for Advanced Studies in Management and Economics, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, 7000-812 Évora, Portugal
Interests: agricultural policy; development and trade; natural resources and environmental economics; agribusiness

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, the concept of sustainable development is viewed in a triple bottom line perspective involving simultaneously economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Natural resources and ecological systems are vulnerable to certain human activities, such as the over exploitation of natural resources, pollution, deforestation, or a reduction of biodiversity. Natural adverse events, such as windstorms, fires, droughts and floods, and climate change are also affecting ecosystems conservation. Understanding how natural resource management can achieve both environmental and social progress without undermining economic objectives is currently a major challenge.

Thus, this Special Issue is about the economics and sustainable management of natural resources. It aims to present original research articles providing new highlights on the current and emerging problems of natural resources management, and modeling techniques that are able to integrate the three dimensions of sustainability into the analysis. New theories and hypotheses to be tested, leading to new sustainable management policies and new approaches to assess issues associated with the vulnerability and resilience of the socio-ecological systems are important welcome contributions, as well as theoretical and empirical studies.

In recent years, many studies have been made trying to reveal the complex relations between ecology, environment, society, and economy. These studies are mainly focused on theoretical analysis, evaluation models, quantitative analysis, and development analysis. However, despite this effort, the analysis of human–environment interactions in a perspective of sustainable management remains disperse. A formal effort is still necessary to consistently express the theories and frameworks developed in economics and within other disciplines that represent the body of accumulated knowledge, as well as testable hypotheses and integrated methodologies.

Usually, the three dimensions of sustainability are in conflict, and suitable policies and strategies are required in order to achieve a good compromise. However, the sustainable management of natural resources requires complex approaches that are able to integrate the interdependence of the three dimensions of sustainability. This is only possible by considering the frameworks that integrate different theories and areas of expertise, such economics and social science, mathematics, agronomy, ecology, and environmental engineering. The findings and highlights provided from this Special Issue are particularly important for researchers on natural resource management and economics, policy-makers, decision-makers, and specific and general stakeholders.

Prof. Rui Manuel de Sousa Fragoso
Prof. Carlos Alberto Falcão Marques
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Natural resources
Sustainable management
Forest systems
Agricultural systems
Fisheries
Wildfire risk
Modeling
Simulation
Bio-systems
Energy
Ecosystem vulnerability
Ecosystem resilience
Agricultural and Food policies
Rural development and Cohesion policies

Published Papers (11 papers)

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19 pages, 3027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resource Carrying Capacity Evaluation Based on Fuzzy Evaluation: Validation Using Karst Landscape Region in Southwest China

by Xinhao Min, Yanning Wang and Jun Chen

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416548 - 9 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1771

Abstract

The problems of regional resource shortage, fragile ecological environment and unbalanced social development are becoming increasingly serious. There is an urgent need for rational evaluation and planning of resources and the environment. This paper presents a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method combined with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and shortcoming element evaluation to analyze the resource and environmental bearing capacity of a certain region. The proposed model was verified by backing data analysis from a karst landscape region in southwest China. Short board element analysis was employed for further study. The results show that (a) the calculation results of the evaluation system used in this paper are consistent with the actual situation. The method can be effectively used in the field of resource and environmental carrying capacity evaluation. (b) The environmental carrying capacity is the largest in this region, followed by the resource carrying capacity, and the socio-economic carrying capacity is the smallest. (c) The region has a sufficient environmental carrying capacity on the whole, the resource conditions are weak and the socio-economic development is backward. The analysis of the evaluation results provides a scientific basis for the rational use of resources, territorial spatial planning, sustainable socio-economic development and ecological environmental protection strategies in karst mountainous areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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19 pages, 4769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Ecological Vulnerability and Analysis of Its Spatiotemporal Evolution Based on the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation/Catastrophe Progression Method: A Case Study of the Danjiang River Basin (Henan Section)

by Shidong Wang, Zilong Bai, Jinjin Si and Cunwei Zhao

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114262 - 1 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1240

Abstract

In recent years, with the implementation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the land use problem and its ecological effects on the Danjiang River Basin (DRB), which is a water source in the project, have become some of the focal points of current research in ecology and environmental science. Selecting the DRB (Henan section) as the study area, an ecological vulnerability evaluation model based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation/catastrophe progression method was constructed to evaluate the ecological vulnerability of the study area. The spatiotemporal evolution patterns of ecological vulnerability in the study area were quantitatively analyzed, and the main evolutionary drivers were identified by using GeoDetector. The results showed that: (1) the ecological vulnerability of the DRB (Henan section) was mainly moderate and mild, with areas of 2535.26 km² and 2717.33 km², respectively, by 2020, accounting for 30.14% and 32.30%, respectively, of the total area of the basin, with an overall vulnerability distribution characteristic of “low in the north and high in the south”; (2) the ecological vulnerability indices of the DRB (Henan section) in 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 0.56, 0.61, and 0.58, indicating that the ecological quality first decreased and then increased; and (3) the influence of vegetation factors on ecological vulnerability was large, with explanatory power above 4%. The influence of economic pressures and surface factors on ecological vulnerability gradually increased. This study can provide a reference for ecological environmental protection in the water source of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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15 pages, 3744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contributions of Biotic and Abiotic Factors to the Spatial Heterogeneity of Aboveground Biomass in Subtropical Forests: A Case Study of Guizhou Province

by Tie Zhang, Guijie Ding, Jiangping Zhang and Yujiao Qi

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710771 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1440

Abstract

The spatial heterogeneity on a regional scale of forest biomass is caused by multiple biotic and abiotic factors. However, the contributions of biotic and abiotic factors to the spatial heterogeneity of forest biomass remain unclear. Based on the data of the National Forest Continuous Inventory (NFCI), digital elevation model (DEM), and meteorological data of Guizhou Province in 2015, we studied the spatial heterogeneity of the aboveground forest biomass in Guizhou province and evaluated the contribution rates of its influencing factors using Moran’s I, semivariogram, distance-based Moran’s eigenvector maps (dbMEMs), and variance partitioning. The results showed that the forest biomass in Guizhou province had strong spatial heterogeneity. Biotic and abiotic factors explained 34.4% and 19.2% of the spatial variation in forest biomass, respectively. Among the biotic factors, the average height of the stand had the greatest influence on forest biomass, while annual precipitation had the greatest influence on forest biomass among abiotic factors. Spatial factors only explained 0.7% of the spatial variation of forest biomass, indicating that the contribution of spatial factors can be explained by some measured abiotic factors. This study provided an effective approach to understand the underlying mechanisms of spatial allocation of forest biomass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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26 pages, 48239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TEEB-Russia: Towards National Ecosystem Accounting

by Elena Bukvareva, Karsten Grunewald, Oxana Klimanova, Evgeni Kolbovsky, Andrey Shcherbakov, Tatiana Sviridova and Dmitry Zamolodchikov

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6678; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126678 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3295

Abstract

Russia’s ecosystems and ecosystem services (ES) are critical not only for the country’s economy and well-being of the people but also for maintaining biodiversity and biosphere regulation around the world. Thus, the introduction of ecosystem accounting in Russia is an urgent national and international goal to which the TEEB-Russia project is dedicated. In this publication, we briefly review and discuss the main project results. Based on currently available open statistical and cartographic data, TEEB-Russia project conducted the first national assessment of terrestrial ES in Russia to derive methodological approaches to national ecosystem accounting. A range of indicators were used to assess the ES provided by ecosystems (potential) as well as the level of demand and consumption of ES by Russia’s regions, both for populations and economies. Indicators of ecosystem assets include extent (ecosystem size) and condition (productivity, phytomass, bird and plant species diversity). An analysis of the correlations between indicators of ES and ecosystem assets showed that a system of national ecosystem accounting in Russia should be regionally differentiated to take account of the strong heterogeneity of natural conditions and the socio-economic development at this level. Decision-making in spatial planning and ecosystem management should carefully consider the difference between causal relationships between indicators and correlations that arise from the simultaneous response of indicators to changes in other factors. Differences in relationships between indicators at different spatial scales should also be taken into account. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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14 pages, 4523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applicability of Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry on Forest Measurement in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands

by Toru Sakai, Emiru Birhane, Buruh Abebe and Destaalem Gebremeskel

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095282 - 9 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2208

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the countries with the most degraded forest resources. Information on tree structure is needed at some points in the process to assess the appropriateness of forest management. The objectives are to examine whether the Structure from Motion (SfM)-based photogrammetry can be used to derive the forest structural parameters, and how the tree structural parameters can vary by location. In this study, the possible applicability of low-cost SfM-based photogrammetry was evaluated for forest management and conservation purposes in the Adi Zaboy watershed of the Northern Ethiopian highlands. In the watershed, dwarf Acacia etbaica was sparsely distributed. Consequently, the full three-dimensional point clouds of the individual trees were generated, which provided a wide variety of tree structural parameters in a non-destructive manner. The R² values for tree height, canopy width, and stump diameter were 0.936, 0.891, and 0.808, respectively, and the corresponding RMSE values were 0.128 m, 0.331 m, and 0.886 cm. In addition, differences in forest structure and composition were caused by differences in the environment. The SfM-based photogrammetry would provide fundamental information to meet the demand of sustainable forest management from a morphological point of view, especially in forests of Ethiopian highlands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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14 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Leadership in Frontier Asia Region: Managerial Discretion and Environmental Innovation

by Qaisar Iqbal, Noor Hazlina Ahmad and Yongmei Li

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5002; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095002 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3571

Abstract

Climate change brings severe impact to frontier Asia in the shape of its significant negative effect on workability and livability. Drawing on the upper echelon theory (UET), this study aims to investigate the mechanism and conditional factors of a sustainable leadership–environmental performance relationship. Employing cluster sampling, this study has collected data from small and medium enterprises in frontier Asian countries—Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. In this study, the authors have collected 245 valid responses with a response rate of 41%. The authors have employed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis to test the proposed hypothesis. The present empirical findings confirm the significant effect of sustainable leadership on environmental innovation and the significant effect of environmental innovation on environmental performance. The current study confirms that sustainable leaders indirectly influence environmental performance through environmental innovation. Nevertheless, its effect on environmental innovations does not amplify in the presence of managerial discretion. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in its nature that has explored the integrated role of sustainable leadership, environmental innovation, managerial discretion, and environmental performance. Limitations and implications have been listed at the end of the study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

11 pages, 290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Role of Perception: Understanding Stakeholders’ Collaboration in Natural Resources Management through the Evolutionary Theory of Innovation

by Gonzalo Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Hugo M. Ballesteros, Helena Martínez-Cabrera, Raúl Vilela, María Grazia Pennino and José María Bellido

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3564; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063564 - 23 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2563

Abstract

Natural resources management deals with highly complex socioecological systems. This complexity raises a conundrum, since wide-ranging knowledge from different sources and types is needed, but at the same time none of these types of knowledge is able by itself to provide the basis for a viable productive system, and mismatches between the two of them are common. Therefore, a growing body of literature has examined the integration of different types of knowledge in fisheries management. In this paper, we aim to contribute to this ongoing debate by integrating the evolutionary theory of innovation—and specifically the concept of proximity—and the theory of perception. We set up a theoretical framework that is able to explain not only why the different types of knowledge differ, but also why they should differ and why this divergence is useful to develop fisheries management. This framework is illustrated through a well-known complex scenario, as was the implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO) in Europe. We conclude that diversity (distance) between types of knowledge is essential for interactive learning, innovation, the incorporation of new ideas or to avoid lock-in, etc. At the same time, cognitive, institutional, geographical, etc. proximity is needed for effective communication, participation and dialogue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

20 pages, 7765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Household-Level Determinants of Participation in Forest Support Programmes in the Miombo Landscapes, Zambia

by Moses Kazungu, Eliza Zhunusova, Gillian Kabwe and Sven Günter

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052713 - 3 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3326 | Correction

Abstract

The need to protect forest resources from unsustainable, yet rational, human actions has attracted global attention. This is because smallholder dependence on forests can degrade forest resources and cause deforestation. While efforts to understand forest programmes and motivations to protect forests have increased in recent decades, there remains a limited understanding of household factors affecting participation in forest support programmes, especially in the context of high-pressure areas, such as the Miombo woodlands. This study was conducted in the North-Western, Copperbelt and Eastern Province of Zambia. In each province, we selected landscapes consisting of protected and non-protected forest areas. We administered structured interviews to 1123 households and used logistic regression to estimate determinants of participation. We found that better education, landholding size, increased share of forest income, cash crops and non-farm income, and access to forests and markets have a negative impact on participation in forest support programmes. Being located in landscapes with protected areas was positively associated with participation. We suggest that, in order to increase participation, forest programmes should focus on households with low levels of education, limited livelihood opportunities, and poor access to markets. Besides, programmes should provide incentives, including support for farm inputs and at the same time encourage reforestation and agroforestry methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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17 pages, 1666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Hinders the Promotion of the Green Mining Mode in China? A Game-Theoretical Analysis of Local Government and Metal Mining Companies

by Yuan Zhao, Guoyan Zhao, Jing Zhou, Dianfei Pei, Weizhang Liang and Ju Qiu

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2991; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072991 - 8 Apr 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2599

Abstract

China is currently trying to reduce the environmental impact of metal mining operations by promoting green mining. However, conflicts of interest between the central government, local governments, and metal mining companies often negatively affect the implementation of related policies. This paper conducted a theoretical analysis of the game mechanism between local governments and metal mining companies to study the factors that influence their strategies. First, we summarize the various game model parameters, determine the strategies which the companies and local government can choose, and establish the game model for the companies and the local government. Second, we list the utility of the company and local government under all game outcomes and analyse their behavioral tendencies. Third, we discuss the impacts of various factors on the choice of their mining mode in detail. The behavioral analysis shows that the local government’s inclination to supervise a mine is negatively related to the supervision cost and positively related to the production scale of this mine; various factors influence the companies in their decision making, with the yield and comprehensive utilization rate of tailings and waste rocks have the greatest impact; the scale of mine production also affects the companies’ willingness to carry out technological innovation. Finally, we offer some suggestions for the promotion of green mining. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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10 pages, 551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Institutional and Legal Framework of the Brazilian Energy Market: Biomass as a Sustainable Alternative for Brazilian Agribusiness

by Marcia Carla Pereira Ribeiro, Caroline Paglia Nadal, Weimar Freire da Rocha Junior, Rui Manuel de Sousa Fragoso and Cleber Antonio Lindino

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041554 - 19 Feb 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2802

Abstract

The present article discusses the institutional model adopted in Brazil regarding energy production through biomass. The utilization of renewable energy and clean sources of energy is a characteristic of Brazil’s energy matrix. Recently, the production of energy through biogas—and biomass in general—started to gain force. The concessionaires of energy, as well, started to discipline its utilization and selling, creating an impediment to the commercialization of energy produced by micro or mini generation outside the free energy market, as well as a prohibition of binding the contracts to the value of electric energy. Even though, it is possible to create a network of contracts that interconnect the producers and the consumers. In this line, the theoretical-empirical method was used to conclude that the model’s difficulties—and specially the legal limitations—can be overcome by adopting a network of contracts capable of subjecting renewable energy generation to an energy compensation model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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3 pages, 163 KiB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Kazungu et al. Household-Level Determinants of Participation in Forest Support Programmes in the Miombo Landscapes, Zambia. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2713

by Moses Kazungu, Eliza Zhunusova, Gillian Kabwe and Sven Günter

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5806; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115806 - 21 May 2021

Viewed by 1060

Abstract

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Natural Resources)

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