Numerous well-documented contextual and structural barriers exclude undergraduates from some populations, contributing to their status as underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In addition to these barriers, environmental science presents challenges that can further exclude students from some populations. This paper reviews related categories of exclusionary barriers and outlines solutions based on the literature and the author’s experience running student success programs. This study emphasizes the challenges and rewards offered by fieldwork, which is fundamental for attraction, retention, and success of students across many facets of environmental science. Transformative impacts on students and, over time, on the culture of institutions themselves can be made if programming is provided in a scaffolded, integrated manner and includes (i) active recruiting into preparatory coursework to prepare undergraduates for research experiences; (ii) individual or group-based undergraduate research experiences with faculty trained in sustaining practices centered on students’ individual backgrounds, situations, and goals; and (iii) transition support for students to move toward their next steps.
Introduction: Drought is one of the most critical climate-related hazards in Ethiopia, significantly affecting agriculture, water resources, and ecosystem stability, particularly in the highly vulnerable Genale Dawa Basin in southeastern Ethiopia.Materials and methods: This study analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of drought and its relationship with vegetation dynamics using historical rainfall and temperature data. Drought conditions were quantified using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI-3) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-3). Vegetation responses were assessed using MODIS-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Seasonal correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate vegetation sensitivity to drought.Results: The findings reveal frequent and recurrent droughts, with severe events occurring in 1984, 1992, 2002–2004, 2011, and 2022. SPEI captured stronger drought signals than SPI, indicating the increasing role of temperature and evapotranspiration. Significant positive correlations were observed between SPI-3 and NDVI during March–May (r = 0.72, p < 0.01) and September–November (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), highlighting the importance of bimodal rainy seasons. In contrast, SPEI–vegetation relationships were weaker and seasonally variable.Conclusions: The Genale Dawa Basin is highly drought-prone, with strong vegetation–climate linkages during key rainy seasons. These findings emphasize the need for season-specific, climate-informed adaptation strategies to enhance drought resilience and sustainable resource management.
Environmental crises are too complex and urgent to be addressed by a narrow segment of humanity. Ecology and sustainability sciences therefore require institutions that identify, recruit, support, and retain talent by removing barriers across the scientific pathway. Drawing on contributions to this Special Issue, this editorial synthesizes evidence that barriers to inclusion operate across the full scientific pathway, from undergraduate training, fieldwork, mentoring, and publication to hiring, evaluation, policy participation, and conservation governance. These barriers are not isolated failures but linked institutional structures that do not always select the best talent. It also highlights practical routes toward better science, including stronger mentoring, safer and more accessible field experiences, better evaluation systems, meaningful community participation, and intentional outreach to ensure that qualified candidates are aware of opportunities. Inclusive science is therefore not peripheral to excellence; it is a condition for producing more creative, rigorous, and relevant ecology and sustainability research.
Introduction: Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) has long been promoted in southern Africa as a participatory model for conservation, yet persistent implementation failures have been widely documented. This paper aims to analyze governance inertia and forest loss in Zambia's Game Management Areas (GMAs) surrounding Kafue National Park, and to assess how systemic failures in CBNRM contribute to ecological decline and community disengagement.Materials and methods: This case-informed policy analysis draws on 30 months of practitioner engagement, situating local observations of inactive Community Resource Boards (CRBs), fragmented institutional support, opaque benefit-sharing, and political inertia within the broader critical literature on CBNRM.Results: The study illustrates how governance failures manifest in practice, translating into accelerating forest loss and weakening community participation. Comparative insights from southern Africa reinforce the evidence that statutory ambiguity and lack of transparent benefit-sharing undermine co-management effectiveness.Conclusions: Revitalizing community governance in Zambia's GMAs is essential to restoring ecological integrity and community legitimacy. Adaptive co-management models, statutory clarity, and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms are urgently needed to strengthen conservation outcomes in one of Africa's most significant landscapes.
Introduction: Coastal megacities face increasing risks from hydroclimatic extremes under global warming, yet comparative assessments across contrasting climatic regimes remain limited. Lagos and Mumbai were selected as representative coastal megacities with large, highly exposed populations but differing climatic systems, enabling a comparative analysis of evolving climate risks. This study presents a high-resolution assessment of Lagos (Tropical West Africa) and Mumbai (Monsoonal South Asia) over the period 1981–2023, integrating Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) extreme climate indices, non-parametric trend analysis, change-point detection, and Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) modeling. Materials and methods: Daily rainfall (CHIRPS v2.0) and temperature (ERA5-Land) datasets were analyzed alongside a Composite Vulnerability Index (CVI) incorporating population density, informal housing, drainage coverage, and healthcare accessibility. Sea-level rise was considered as an amplifying factor for coastal flood exposure. Results: Results indicate contrasting hydroclimatic trajectories: Mumbai exhibits significant increases in rainfall (+5.18 mm/year) and wet spell persistence (CWD +0.133 days/year), while Lagos shows stronger warming trends, particularly in extreme temperatures (TXx +0.047 °C/year). Change-point analysis suggests a shift in Mumbai’s rainfall regime in the early 2000s, although the linkage to broader climatic drivers is inferred rather than explicitly tested. Both cities exhibit increasing clustering of extreme events, with Lagos showing greater interannual variability. GEV-based return level estimates indicate substantially higher multi-day rainfall extremes in Mumbai (~478 mm for a 100-year event) compared to Lagos (~99.6 mm). Spatial analysis reveals a strong overlap between areas of high flood exposure and socio-environmental vulnerability in both cities. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while hydroclimatic drivers differ between Lagos and Mumbai, their impacts converge through shared patterns of urban vulnerability. This underscores the importance of integrating hazard-specific approaches with vulnerability-focused planning in rapidly urbanizing coastal megacities.
Introduction: Despite Nigeria’s simultaneous reliance on fossil fuels for growth and efforts to promote renewable energy, little is known about whether shocks to these contrasting energy sources influence environmental sustainability in asymmetric ways. This study examines whether positive and negative changes in renewable and non-renewable energy consumption have differing effects on environmental outcomes.Materials and methods: Using annual data from 1994 to 2023, the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model was applied, with environmental sustainability proxied by the Load Capacity Factor (LCF) and the Environmental Performance Index (EPI).Results: The results revealed significant asymmetric effects that varied by energy type, time horizon, and environmental indicator. In the LCF model, positive shocks to non-renewable energy significantly reduced environmental sustainability in the long run, while negative shocks to renewable energy also unexpectedly degraded LCF. In the EPI model, only negative shocks to renewable energy produced a significant positive effect on environmental performance, whereas positive shocks remained insignificant. Wald tests confirmed the presence of asymmetry for renewable energy in the short run and for non-renewable energy in the long run.Conclusions: These findings contradict conventional expectations and highlight structural inefficiencies, technological lock-in, and policy implementation gaps in Nigeria’s energy transition. The study concludes that promoting renewable energy alone is insufficient; targeted policies addressing energy mix composition, institutional quality, and technological efficiency are imperative for achieving environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Introduction: Land-use change in specialized agro-industrial regions presents a unique “spatial friction” between intense industrial agglomeration (e.g., Baijiu production) and stringent ecological conservation mandates. However, these distinct dynamics remain underrepresented in land system science. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s Baijiu Golden Triangle (BGT) to address this specific industry–agriculture–ecology conflict, aiming to quantify historical driving mechanisms and simulate future trajectories under policy-aligned macroscopic scenarios. Materials and methods: Utilizing 30 m resolution land-use data from 2000 to 2022, Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial analysis was employed to characterize historical evolutionary patterns. The Patch-generating Land-Use Simulation (PLUS) model—quantitatively validated with a Kappa coefficient of 0.82 and an overall accuracy of 0.912—was integrated with a Random Forest algorithm to extract underlying biophysical and socioeconomic drivers. Furthermore, a Markov chain model was utilized to project spatial configurations for the 2036 horizon under four context-specific pathways—Natural Development, Economic Development, Ecological Conservation, and Sustainable Development—all strictly parameterized according to current regional statutory plans. Results: Historical analysis revealed a continuous and accelerating expansion of construction land, with its dynamic degree reaching 10.31% annually (2000–2015), profoundly encroaching upon vital cropland. Nighttime light intensity emerged as the primary socioeconomic engine driving this urban-industrial sprawl, whereas elevation and hydrological proximity fundamentally constrained the spatial limits of agricultural and ecological spaces. Multi-scenario projections for 2036 demonstrate that the Economic Development scenario severely exacerbates landscape fragmentation (driving a 99.04% increase in construction land at the severe expense of regional forest ecosystems, which decline by 2.43%), whereas the Sustainable Development scenario achieves an optimal structural equilibrium. Conclusions: The Sustainable Development framework provides the most scientifically robust spatial pathway for mitigating the inherent agro-industrial conflicts in the BGT, strictly aligning with the macro-objectives of the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle Plan and the Chishui River Basin Ecological Protection Plan. By extending land system science into ecologically sensitive agro-industrial zones, these findings offer spatially explicit, data-driven decision support for future territorial spatial planning and regional sustainable governance.
Sustainable natural resource governance in developing countries often falters due to weak institutional frameworks, limited enforcement capacity, and fragmented accountability mechanisms. In Ghana, the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP), which was designed to ensure that environmental degradation costs are borne by polluters, is fraught with challenges due to weak enforcement in key sectors—mining, oil, and waste management. This study critically evaluates the institutional and operational barriers to effective PPP enforcement in Ghana. Drawing on a multi-level governance framework and the theory of environmental accountability, the research integrates policy analysis, institutional mapping, and stakeholder interviews across key regulatory bodies. The study assesses institutional coordination, financial accountability, and transparency mechanisms influencing PPP implementation. It further explores the socio-environmental consequences of ineffective enforcement in the context of illegal mining (galamsey) and industrial pollution. The findings revealed that PPP enforcement in Ghana remains fragmented and uneven across sectors, primarily due to overlapping mandates among regulatory bodies and poor coordination among agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minerals Commission, resulting in limited accountability and transparency. However, multi-level governance reforms via key innovations such as harmonising institutional roles, strengthening financial accountability, and integrating digital tools for transparency lead to effective PPP enforcement. Ultimately, the study positions PPP not only as an environmental policy tool but also as a robust governance mechanism capable of balancing ecological protection with inclusive economic growth to advance Ghana’s sustainable resource management and contribute significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as dynamic vectors for personal care product (PCP) contaminants, including triclosan, methyl-triclosan, synthetic musks, organic and inorganic UV filters, parabens, caffeine, and other preservatives. Sorption behaviors of MPs are strongly influenced by polymer type, particle size, surface chemistry, aging, and environmental conditions, including pH, salinity, ionic strength, and natural organic matter. Hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding, π–π interactions, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic effects govern adsorption. Aging and surface oxidation generally enhance MP sorption capacities. For triclosan and methyl-triclosan, hydrophobicity enhances adsorption (24.8–70.8 l g−1 adsorption affinity for methyl-triclosan versus 0.14–0.77 l g−1 for triclosan), while competition/cooperation between compounds alters their individual uptake (antagonist effects on triclosan). Synthetic musks exhibit size- and temperature-dependent adsorption, with polyvinyl chloride generally outperforming polyethylene and polypropylene due to higher surface area and pore volume (0.88–1.60 µg g−1 adsorption capacity for polyvinyl chloride versus 0.860–1.0 µg g−1 for polyethylene). Organic UV filters show multilayer adsorption (5–9100 µg g−1), influenced by polymer type, hydrophobicity, and co-occurring contaminants. Inorganic UV nanoparticles (ZnO, TiO2) interact with MPs via aggregation, dissolution, and reactive oxygen species generation. TiO2 generally shows greater adsorption (up to 72%) than ZnO (16% on polyethylene). Paraben adsorption increases with ester chain length. It is affected by MP polarity, particle size, and aging. Caffeine adsorption is enhanced on aged or humic-acid-enriched MPs (362 µg g−1 on aged polyethylene microplastics versus 237 µg g−1 on pristine ones). It demonstrates limited desorption under pH changes, indicating low bioavailability. Surfactants (anionic, cationic, nonionic) significantly alter MP transport and pollutant uptake by modifying surface charge, adhesion, and hydrophilicity. Adsorption kinetics generally fit pseudo-first- or second-order models, and isotherms align with Freundlich, Langmuir, or Temkin models, reflecting heterogeneous surface interactions. Overall, MPs act as carriers for diverse PCPs, modulating their mobility, persistence, and ecological risk in aquatic systems. Future studies should focus on the combined effects of mixed MPs, surfactants, and co-existing contaminants under realistic environmental conditions to better predict the fate and transport of PCPs.
Ultra-low-temperature freezers (ULTFs) are an essential part of biological and medical research, but consume large amounts of energy. The School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield has a fleet of approximately 80 ULTFs, which were operating at −80 °C until 2024, and contribute significantly to the School’s electricity consumption—around 1300 kW h/d in early 2024, with correspondingly high electricity costs and carbon footprint. We therefore set out to manage the use of our ULTFs more effectively, while reducing risk to research, through a combination of extensive consultation with users, improved management, and increasing the set temperature to −70 °C. We have implemented a policy of consolidating and rolling out replacements for freezers, based on energy usage rather than age. Based on a pilot programme that achieved a 62% reduction in energy, we expect to reduce energy consumption by at least 50% and simultaneously save money while also mitigating risks to research, benefiting both the School and the University. This study provides details on how these results were achieved.
The country-level scale is the most relevant unit for evaluating and monitoring the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), in terms of its effectiveness on biodiversity conservation, particularly regarding the prevention and control of invasive alien species. We quantify indicator 15.8.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for Uruguay allowing the evaluation of existing legal instruments and resource allocation for managing invasive alien species at the national level. The value obtained for the indicator (40%) represents an inadequate implementation of the mechanisms of international law proposed by the CBD to reduce the impact of these species on biodiversity. In particular, in Uruguay, article 8(h) has not yet undergone the requisite regulatory processes, and the target set out in SDG 15.8 has not been achieved. Uruguay’s regulatory framework for managing biological invasions is deemed inadequate, as three out of the five specified individual indicators have either not been met or demonstrate no observable progress. However, the composite indicator for SDG 15.8 provides a clear direction to address the current research gap. Additionally, a comparison of legislation and management plans for the prevention or control of invasive alien species in other South American countries can identify regional asymmetries in biodiversity management policies, particularly regarding invasive alien species.
Urban microforests, inspired by the Miyawaki method, exemplify the contemporary shift toward ecological urbanism—an approach that conceives the city as a living ecosystem where environmental and social processes coevolve. Within this framework, the Roman “green archipelago” of microforests, from the San Lorenzo pilot project to the 15 Microforests for the 15-Minute City initiative, offers a significant laboratory for examining how small-scale green infrastructures can mediate between ecological restoration, pedagogy, and civic engagement. The study adopts four analytical lenses—ecology, pedagogy, civic engagement, and conviviality—to interpret the microforest as a regenerative infrastructure that reconfigures urban space through proximity, participation, and care. These dimensions reflect the idea of conviviality as elaborated by Illich (1973): a condition of shared agency and mutual responsibility between people and their environment. Findings from the Roman case studies reveal both the transformative potential and fragility of microforests—their success depending on sustained educational activation, cultural programming, and institutional cooperation. Building on these insights, the ongoing Third Mission initiative MiCS—Microforests Cultural Hub Sapienza: A Bridge Between Ecology and Community reframes the microforest as a civic infrastructure and living laboratory, where schools, universities, and local communities co-produce ecological and cultural value. Ultimately, the paper argues that microforests embody a new form of regenerative small-scale urbanism, capable of cultivating environmental literacy, collective stewardship, and convivial urban life within the broader trajectory of ecological transition.
A broadly representative faculty benefits student learning and the practice of science. In the context of environmental science and sustainability, a more representative and inclusive community of investigators expands the scope of research and the range of research strategies. To achieve greater representation, we need to alter traditional approaches to faculty recruiting and faculty development. This essay describes perspectives and practices, grounded in the framework of “inclusive excellence”, that can bolster initiatives to improve representation in environmental science and sustainability. Re-evaluation of the use of merit and merit criteria, consideration of interdisciplinary work, and a more individualized approach to investment in faculty success can provide opportunities to increase the representation of individuals from underserved groups.
This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of machine learning and statistical modeling approaches for monitoring and predicting Nigeria’s industrial CO2 emissions in support of the nation’s 2060 net-zero target. A two-phase experimental design was implemented: the first phase established baseline performance for five models, Linear Regression, Prophet, ARIMA, Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Random Forest, while the second phase utilized hyperparameter optimization to improve predictive robustness. The results indicate that Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and optimized SVR demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy, achieving R2 values of 0.932 and 0.923, respectively, with an optimized SVR RMSE of 2.229 Mt CO2. In contrast, ensemble and univariate models, including Random Forest and ARIMA, exhibited weak generalization capacity with negative R2 values, indicating limited predictive validity when applied to a constrained longitudinal dataset (n = 52). Statistical diagnostics confirmed the transport sector as the most significant exogenous driver of industrial CO2 emissions in Nigeria. The proposed comparative modeling approach establishes a robust methodological basis for emission forecasting, with projected industrial CO2 emissions for 2025 estimated at 123.79 Mt CO2 (MLR). These findings align with the objectives of Nigeria’s National Industrial Decarbonization Plan (NIDP), supporting evidence-based model selection and strategic sectoral prioritization for achieving long-term emission reduction goals.
This article examines women’s exclusion from irrigation governance in Tajikistan, with a focus on their participation in Water User Associations (WUAs) in the Vaksh River Basin. Applying a Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) lens, the study explores how legal frameworks, institutional dynamics, and socio-cultural norms interact to constrain women’s agency in water governance. While Tajikistan has introduced semi-formal WUAs under national law to encourage participatory management, women’s involvement remains largely symbolic, undermined by weak institutional enforcement and entrenched patriarchal norms. To deepen the analysis, the study uses a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) to compare Tajikistan with Afghanistan, another agrarian and patriarchal society but one governed through customary systems. In Afghanistan, irrigation governance is shaped by male-dominated mirab networks and rigid honor-based codes, which severely restrict women’s public participation, even when they own land or meet eligibility criteria. Methodologically, the article relies on qualitative analysis of secondary data, including policy documents, legal frameworks, and prior research. The comparative lens highlights how distinct governance structures and normative pressures create different but overlapping patterns of gendered exclusion. This study addresses the gap on why the feminization of agriculture in Tajikistan has not translated into women’s representation in irrigation governance. The findings demonstrate that without enforceable institutional support and cultural transformation, legal inclusion alone is insufficient to achieve gender-equitable irrigation governance. This article is based on secondary data analysis, enriched by comparative insights from the author’s prior fieldwork in Afghanistan, and contributes to advancing theory-driven understanding of gendered exclusion in irrigation governance.
Marine Fishery Advisories (MFAs) in the form of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, developed and disseminated by the Earth System Science Organization—Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (ESSO-INCOIS), predict short-term fish aggregation zones in the open sea for the fishing community except during fishing ban periods in India. Hence, MFAs have the potential to enhance the economic benefits for marine fishers due to the reduction in the search time during fishing, which ultimately decreases fuel (e.g., diesel) consumption. Considering these potential advantages, the present study is designed to investigate the economic benefits in terms of reductions in the diesel consumption for the mechanized (MC) fishing sector in selected Fish Landing Centers (FLCs) and Fishing Harbors (FHs) across the coastal districts of Odisha based on stratified sampling. A comparative analysis was carried out on fishing expeditions in the PFZ Notified Area (PNA) and Non-Notified Area (NNA) based on a field survey conducted among marine fishers across these FLCs/FHs operated by MC fishing craft during 2020–21. It was found from the present investigation that the average daily fishing expenditure can be reduced from INR 36,000 to INR 19,000 due to the usage of MFAs, which implies an approximate 45% reduction in daily spending on fishing expeditions. Moreover, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and net profits of the fishers according to the present analysis provide an overall picture of the MFA usage and economic benefits. The reduction in the fishing expenditure owing to the lower fuel consumption using MFAs are directly associated with sustainable fishing practices, which are also connected with co-targets such as fish stock preservation and maintaining an acceptable ecosystem health under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14. Furthermore, the societal impacts due to the use of MFAs on the fishing community were also studied through a lifecycle assessment. The present investigation illustrated the multiple ecosystem and human co-benefits associated with the reduction in search time through the utilization of MFAs, which can be invested into making fishery operations sustainable for all stakeholders.
Urban sustainability requires innovative approaches that simultaneously address resource efficiency, waste reduction, and behavioural change. This study critically examines the role of behavioural nudges in promoting circular economy practices within urban contexts, synthesising insights from behavioural economics, industrial ecology, and urban governance literature. The research highlights how choice architecture, defaults, and framing can influence urban residents’ consumption and disposal behaviours, particularly in waste management, repair initiatives, and resource recovery programmes. Case studies from diverse municipal contexts illustrate both the potential and limitations of nudges, emphasising that short-term behavioural shifts do not automatically translate into long-term environmental gains. Quantitative evidence on resource savings, waste reduction rates, and behavioural persistence underscores the need for system-level integration, linking nudges with infrastructure, policy, and financial incentives. Importantly, the study identifies critical research gaps, including underexplored cultural contexts, vulnerable populations, and a lack of longitudinal impact assessments, which constrain scalable, equitable interventions. The analysis concludes with policy recommendations for designing integrated nudge systems embedded within urban planning, emphasising participatory design, equity, and sustainability metrics. This was achieved by combining behavioural insights with circular economy principles. The study provides a framework for evidence-based interventions that enhance urban resource efficiency, foster pro-environmental behaviour, and support the transition toward resilient and inclusive cities. This research contributes to both academic knowledge and practical policy by outlining pathways for sustainable, long-term urban transformation.
Over the past decades, a noticeable shift has taken place in the relationship between humans and nature. There is a growing interest in re-naturalizing urban environments by increasing vegetation cover as a means to foster more resilient cities and enhance environmental comfort for urban dwellers. Numerous policy recommendations emphasize vague targets such as increasing urban biodiversity or expanding tree canopy cover. While these indicators are indeed relevant and contribute to ecosystem service provision, they remain insufficient as standalone goals, failing to account for the complexity of factors involved in the design and planning of green urban infrastructure. This article places particular emphasis on the role of trees as the core unit of green infrastructure. Other vegetative strata, such as herbaceous layers or vertical greening systems, are acknowledged but regarded as secondary or complementary to tree-based systems. We highlight the conceptual ambiguity surrounding terms like “biodiversity” or “canopy increase” and argue that these metrics, although widely used, must be subordinated to a more integrative and function-driven planning paradigm. Urban forestry strategies should not aim merely to boost biodiversity indices but rather to develop evidence-based planting proposals that consider plant functional traits, optimize ecosystem service delivery, minimize disservices, and ensure species selection aligns with future climate conditions. This also involves maximizing genetic diversity, conducting detailed assessments of below-ground conditions (soils), as well as canopy height and diameter class structures, to enhance resilience against pests and diseases. Furthermore, spatial distribution must be planned to ensure justice and equity across socioeconomic groups. Ultimately, fulfilling all these criteria is likely to result in more biodiverse urban forests, but this diversity will be the consequence of well-defined, objective, and scientifically grounded decisions, rather than an arbitrary increase in a metric whose optimal threshold remains undefined. The goal is not simply more biodiversity, but smarter, functionally informed biodiversity.
The sustainability of gold mining practices, particularly among artisanal miners, has garnered increasing attention due to its environmental and social implications. However, limited empirical research has explored the nuanced factors influencing sustainable practices in gold mining areas. This study examined the roles of Awareness and Education, Future Mining Considerations, and Social Impact Perceptions in shaping Continuous Mining Intentions and their subsequent impact on Environmental Sustainability in Mining Practices. Using a quantitative approach, data from 271 artisanal gold miners were analysed through Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study found that Continuous Mining Intentions was the main factor significantly and positively predicted Environmental Sustainability in Mining Practices of artisanal miners. Additionally, Awareness and Education significantly predicted both Continuous Mining Intentions and Future Mining Considerations of artisanal gold miners. These results highlight the critical role of awareness, education, and social considerations in promoting sustainable mining practices. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance environmental sustainability in artisanal mining and suggests pathways for integrating education and social awareness into mining policies and programmes.
Proper soil management is essential for sustaining soil fertility and optimizing agricultural productivity. Understanding how soils respond to different land use practices is key to ensuring long-term land sustainability. This study evaluates the effects of various land use types on soil physicochemical properties in the North-Central Highlands of Ethiopia, establishing a baseline for future research and sustainable land management. This study examined the impact of different land uses on soil fertility and quality by analyzing 108 composite soil samples across four land use types, three depths, and three slope positions, with triplicate sampling for accuracy. Key physicochemical properties were analyzed to assess soil physicochemical property and quality variations. The study showed that cultivated land had significantly lower soil fertility than natural forestland, with lower levels of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, exchangeable bases, and base saturation. Topsoil had a better nutrient content compared to subsoil, with higher levels of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and micronutrients. Moreover, soils on lower slopes had better chemical properties than those on upper slopes, with higher pH, exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity occurring at lower slopes. Conversion of natural forest to cropland led to significant (p < 0.05) declines in organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus, highlighting severe soil degradation risks. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved land management practices and policy interventions to mitigate soil fertility loss. These findings will offer valuable information for policy makers, researchers and farmers to make well-informed decisions regarding land use planning and soil conservation strategies in the region. Further research is recommended to assess land use change impacts across various scales, from small sub-watersheds to regional and national levels, to support balanced agricultural development and ecosystem conservation.
