Anthropogenic ecological transformations are challenging conventional environmental management paradigms, as maintaining historical ecological structures and functions becomes increasingly untenable. The resist–accept–direct (RAD) framework offers a strategic tool to navigate these shifts. However, as a product of the dominant socio-cultural system, the RAD framework risks perpetuating the same patterns of thinking that have contributed to unsustainable social-ecological dynamics. Indigenous socio-cultural systems, considered here through the lens of long-term coevolution with their environments, offer valuable empirical models for adaptive responses to environmental change. Such Indigenous socio-cultural responses, grounded in narratives, governance institutions, value systems, and other cultural elements collectively referred to as Indigenous Knowledge (IK), hold relevance for addressing today’s intertwined environmental and social challenges. We provide a targeted review of existing literature at the intersection of IK and the RAD framework, along with a broader conceptual overview of relevant insights across related fields. These reveal contrasting assumptions about Indigenous responses to environmental change, such as consistently resisting to preserve cultural fidelity or uniformly accepting, reflecting deeper cultural, temporal, and ecological complexity. We propose a structured research agenda to investigate Indigenous socio-cultural responses to environmental change through empirical research, theoretical synthesis, hypothesis development, and practical application. This agenda is grounded in comprehensive collaboration, emphasizing shared power and integrating both emic and etic perspectives throughout all stages of research and implementation. By bridging the adaptive dynamics of coevolved social-ecological systems and mainstream management strategies, an IK–RAD framework could enhance the efficacy of responses to global environmental change.
Opportunities for direct experience with wildlife shape human perceptions and behaviors, influencing human-environment relationships. These perceptions vary across communities according to lived experiences and the assessed costs and benefits of living with wildlife. In a changing global context, a “perception-practice loop” emerges, where shifts in local practices directly affect attitudes toward wildlife. This study uses a mixed-methods approach - combining qualitative and statistical analysis of semi-structured interviews - to examine how evolving elephant handling practices in Laos influence direct interactions with and perceptions of wild elephants. Our findings indicate that owners adapt their strategies to diverse socio-ecological contexts driven by recent global pressures. These practices, often grounded in reciprocity, shape perceptions and levels of tolerance toward wild individuals. The results indicate that tolerance depends less on aggressive elephant behavior and more on the perceived balance of costs and benefits. While wild elephants impose psychological or delayed burdens, they also provide tangible and symbolic benefits, such as mating opportunities and conservation value. We conclude that fostering reciprocal relationships and integrating traditional knowledge can enhance human-wildlife coexistence, supporting both biodiversity and local well-being.
Emerging evidence suggests that urban green space may alleviate climate anxiety, reinforcing its conventional role as a psychologically restorative environment. Yet this relationship may be more complex than a uniformly protective effect. This study examines whether perceived green built environments are associated with climate risk perception and climate anxiety, and whether climate anxiety, pro-environmental behavior, and well-being are differently associated across levels of neighborhood green-space provision. We analyzed survey data from 434 residents across four Taipei districts using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and multi-group analysis (PLS-MGA). Contrary to a purely protective interpretation, perceived green built environments were positively associated with both climate risk perception and climate anxiety. Climate anxiety was positively associated with pro-environmental behavior but showed no significant direct association with well-being, whereas pro-environmental behavior was strongly associated with greater well-being. This latter association was significantly stronger in high-green than in low-green districts. These findings highlight the complexity of human–environment relationships under climate change, showing that urban greenness may coexist with greater climate-related awareness and anxiety and that the psychological relevance of pro-environmental behavior varies across green-space conditions.
Integrated assessment of drinking water security and the prevalence of waterborne diseases in the Imphal East (IE) and Imphal West (IW) districts of Manipur, India, using the water poverty index (WPI). WPI is evaluated across various dimensions, including the availability and accessibility of water resources and the use of safe, acceptable-quality drinking water; the socioeconomic capacity of the population to cope with water security challenges; and overall environmental challenges. The seasonal prevalence of waterborne diseases was assessed with respect to climate variables, specifically rainfall and temperature. The systematic, structured household questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were conducted to assess socioeconomic parameters of the representative population. Based on the integrated assessment, the study reveals a poor-to-moderate WPI, highlighting a significant challenge for people in accessing potable water in the region. This underscores the need to improve rural drinking water supply to ensure public health safety. Thus, the present study incorporates the interlinkage between climate variability, public health challenges, and their impact on the drinking water security in the region.
