https://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/issue/feedEnvironmental Management and Sustainable Development2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Jenny Youngemsd@macrothink.orgOpen Journal Systems<p><strong>Environmental Management and Sustainable Development</strong> (<span>ISSN </span><span>2164-7682</span>) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal, published by Macrothink Institute. <span>This journal, published <strong>quarterly</strong></span><span> (February, </span><span>May, August and November</span><span>) in </span><strong>online version</strong><span>, keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments in all aspects of </span>environment management and sustainable development. The online version is free access and download.</p><p>Authors are encouraged to submit complete unpublished and original works, which are not under review in any other journals.</p><p><strong> <img style="float: right; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px;" src="/journal/public/journals/31/pageHeaderTitleImage_en_US.jpg" alt="http://www.macrothink.org/journal/public/journals/31/pageHeaderTitleImage_en_US.jpg" width="320" height="430" /><strong>The scopes</strong> of the journal include, but not limited to, the following topic areas:</strong></p><ul><li>Economics of environmental management</li><li>Environmental impact assessment</li><li>Environmental legislation</li><li>Environmental policies and politics</li><li>Environmental systems</li><li>Improved energy efficiency</li><li>Process modification for pollution prevention</li><li>Remediation of contaminated sites</li><li>Resource quality, quantity and sustainability</li><li>Spill prevention and management</li><li>Sustainability</li><li>Sustainable development approaches and methods</li><li>Transport and fate of pollutants in the environment</li><li>Waste treatment and disposal</li><li>Water and energy related issues</li></ul><p><span>This journal accepts article submissions</span><strong> <a href="/journal/index.php/emsd/information/authors">online</a> or by <a href="mailto:emsd@macrothink.org">e-mail</a> </strong><span><strong>(emsd@macrothink.org).</strong></span></p><p><span><strong><strong><strong>ABSTRACTING AND INDEXING:</strong></strong></strong></span></p><ul><li>CrossRef</li><li>ERA(2018)</li><li><a href="https://scholar.google.com./citations?hl=en&user=pS4OCsUAAAAJ&view_op=list_works"><span style="font-size: 10px;">Google Scholar Citations</span></a></li><li><strong><span>JournalTOCs</span></strong></li><li><span style="font-size: 10px;">LOCKSS</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 10px;">PKP Open Archives Harvester</span></li><li>Sherpa/Romeo</li><li><strong><span style="font-size: 10px;">Standard Periodical Directory</span></strong></li><li><span style="font-size: 10px;">Toronto Public Library</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 10px;">WorldCat</span></li></ul>https://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21524Dimensional Analysis of Spatial Inequality in Regional Development: Evidence from the Noun Division, West Region of Cameroon2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Desmond Forbah Tafuhtafuhdesmond19@gmail.comSunday Shende Kometashendek@hotmail.comJude Ndzifon Kimengsikimengsi.jude@uniba.cm<p class="emsd-body">Spatial inequalities in regional development continue to exist on a global, regional, national, and local scale. The nature and magnitude of spatial inequality in regional development seems not to have been clarified in the Noun Division even though much interest appears to be given only to income inequality despite the fact that spatial inequality in socio-economic development seemingly exist. This paper provides empirical evidence on the dimensions of spatial inequality in regional development in the Noun Division. The situation is examine using simple random sampling technique to select 400 household representatives with the used of questionnaires as the main instrument for data collection. Data collected were analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPPS<sub>21</sub>. Dimensional analysis confirms that there exists spatial inequality in regional development with Foumban and Foumbot Sub Divisions rapidly developing in the Noun Division. The study concluded that there exist spatial inequality in regional development between Sub Divisions in the Noun. Based on this finding, it is recommended that the way forward to balance the imbalance between Sub Divisions is to target investments in lagging Sub Divisions taking into consideration variation the distribution of socio-economic development in the Noun Division.</p>2024-12-13T00:00:00-08:00Copyright (c) 2023 Desmond Forbah Tafuh, Sunday Shende Kometa, Jude Ndzifon Kimengsihttps://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21589Spatio-temporal Landuse/Landcover Dynamics in the Coastal Areas of Limbe and Douala IV Municipalities and Implications on Wetland Regulating Ecosystem Services2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Aminkeng Lucienne Fuanyilucienneaminkeng@gmail.comTata Emmanuel Sunjolucienneaminkeng@gmail.comBalgah Sounderslucienneaminkeng@gmail.com<p class="emsd-body">Globally, wetlands are ecological hot spots and as a result they supply a plethora provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. Despite their functions, wetlands continue to degrade arising from urban developments (population growth and housing developments, road infrastructural developments, urban agricultures and usage of wetlands as dumpsites). These activities operate via land use/land cover changes at different scales in different areas depending on technology and needs of the population. This paper describes the implications of spatio-temporal land use/ land cover (LULC) dynamics in the Limbe I and III Municipality (L1&3Ms) and Douala IV Municipality (D4M) coastal areas from 1986 to 2022 on wetland ecosystem services. This research made use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technique in describing the land use/cover changes in the study areas. Primary data was obtained through field observations, questionnaires and ground truthing aim at confirming the observations on downloaded satellite imageries. Four Satellite images of different years (1986, 1999, 2013 and 2022) were downloaded from the United State Geologic Survey (USGS) Earth Explorer. Images were imported into Erdas Imagine, 2014 where preprocessing was done and Supervised Classification was adopted for the processing of the image to generate a raster format depicting the designed land cover/land uses; especially the wetlands which constituted one of the themes. Maps were generated to show changes in land use/cover which were transposed into tables and figures to show the trends in magnitude of changes, percentage of change and the rate of change. Within 36 years (1986-2022) built-up increased by 0.75km<sup>2</sup> (0.36%) and 1.63km<sup>2</sup> (0.45%) while wetlands retreated by -0.2km<sup>2</sup> (-.96%) and -0.48km<sup>2</sup> (-0.14%) in L1&3M and D4M respectively. Annually, wetlands decreased by - 97.04km<sup>2</sup> and -191.54km<sup>2</sup> while settlements/infrastructures increased by 294.33km<sup>2</sup> and 644.46km<sup>2</sup> over the same 36 year periods in L1&3Ms and D4M respectively. Base on wetland regulating services, changes in LULC has exposes neighbourhoods in L1&3Ms to flood vulnerability comprising the vulnerable, less vulnerable, least vulnerable and most vulnerable areas as opposed to two categories of neighbourhoods in D4M (most vulnerable neighbourhood’s and the less vulnerable neighbourhoods). Information on changes in land use-land cover is crucial in delineating impacted areas, understand the type of changes, their spatial patterns and the need for formulating proper urban planning and environmental preservation policies as well as updating these policies with time. GIS analysis of 1986, 1999, 2013, and 2022, indicated that, there have been significant modifications in observed LULC classes (forest cover, farmland and built-up land uses) over L1&3Ms and D4M.</p>2024-01-05T00:00:00-08:00Copyright (c) 2024 Aminkeng Lucienne Fuanyi, Tata Emmanuel Sunjo, Balgah Soundershttps://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21594Studies on the Use of Unconventional Transport Vehicles and Fuels in the Island of Crete, Greece2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00John Vourdoubasivourdoubas@gmail.com<p class="emsd-body">Several alternative vehicles and zero-carbon fuels have been developed and used to mitigate climate change, reduce the air pollution in cities and the dependence on oil resources. Their use is necessary for achieving the net-zero emissions target in the next decades. Among these vehicles are electric vehicles and vehicles with ICEs using electricity, hydrogen and bio-fuels of organic origin. The possibility of using alternative vehicles and fuels in Crete, Greece for de-carbonization of vehicles transportation has been examined. The use of electric vehicles equipped with re-chargeable electric batteries, electric vehicles equipped with fuel cells using hydrogen and vehicles with internal combustion engines using bio-fuels has been studied. The required electricity for re-charging electric batteries and for electrolytic hydrogen production can be generated from the abundant local solar and wind energy resources. Taking into account the maturity and the cost-effectiveness of the solar-PV technology as well as the wind turbine’s technology in Crete the use of electric vehicles powered by green electricity is prioritized for the green transition of the transportation sector. Bio-fuels which are used in conventional vehicles are not produced in the island. Each type of the abovementioned vehicles and fuels has several advantages and drawbacks which can accelerate or delay their use in Crete. It has been found that the green transition of vehicles transportation in the island has positive and negative economic impacts to all stakeholders. The results could be useful to policy makers, local authorities and to local stakeholders while they can assist in the development of a plan for de-carbonizing the island by 2050.</p>2024-02-24T16:44:09-08:00Copyright (c) 2023 JOHN VOURDOUBAShttps://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21352Methodological Approach for Assessing Impacts and Recovery of Selectively Logged Forests in Tropical Forests2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Guido Vicente Briceno Castilloguidobricas@gmail.comLucas Jose Mazzei de Freitaslucas.mazzei@embrapa.brJorge Luis Reategui-Betancourtjorgereategui91@gmail.comRenato Prado dos Santosrenato.prado@ibram.df.gov.brEder Pereira Migueloedermiguel@unb.brOsmar Luiz Ferreira de Carvalhoosmarcarvalho@ieee.orgEraldo Aparecido Trondoli Matricardiematricardi@gmail.com<p class="emsd-body">Ecosystem structure and function depends on the local and regional species pools, climate, geology, and type and frequency of disturbances. Tropical rain forests have long been growing in relatively stable climatic conditions and little disturbances until recent decades, when large-scale of land conversion into croplands and forest impacts by selective logging activities and forest fires have been more frequently observed. Selective logging causes forest degradation, which requires a rigorous monitoring system to control and mitigate forest impacts and recovery. Overtime forest disturbances and recovery can be estimated by using vegetation indices derived from remotely sensed data that enable us to distinguish disturbed from undisturbed forests and estimate the degree of those disturbances. This study aimed to assess the suitability of the Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI) to detect selectively logged forests and estimate the forest recovery structure in a study site in the state of Pará, Eastern Amazon region. We retrieved the MSAVI from Landsat imagery to assess forest impacts by selective logging before and after logging. The estimated MSAVI index before and after logging activities were significantly different and enabled us to distinguish forest recovery structures after selective logging in the study site. Our methodological approach can be used to monitor selective logging activities and support planning of Sustainable Forest Management in tropical regions.</p>2024-02-27T16:47:21-08:00Copyright (c) 2023 Guido Vicente Briceño Castillo, Lucas José Mazzei de Freitas, Jorge Luis Reategui-Betancourt, Renato Prado dos Santos, Eder Pereira Miguelo, Osmar Luiz Ferreira de Carvalho, Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli Matricardihttps://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21757The Sustainability of Palm Oil2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Mohd Ikbal Mohd Huda Dhenadaibahuda@ukm.edu.myMohd Ikbal Mohd Hudadhenadanizar10@gmail.com<p class="emsd-body">The most significant environmental issue associated with palm oil that is accused by the European Union is deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The tension arose after the EU established Renewable Energy Directive II. EU considered palm oil-producing countries have ignored environmental issues by expanding palm oil plantations which has resulted in deforestation. This made palm oil plantations included in the high-risk Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) category. Therefore, this article presents a comparison of the sustainability between palm oil and other vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, etc<strong>. </strong>The findings of this article contextualize the comparative advantage of palm oil over other similar resources. The reasons why palm oil is more sustainable are it needs less land to produce the same amount of oil, its sustainability certification at the international level such as RSPO which is also connected to SDGs, and at the domestic level such as ISPO and MSPO. One strategy proposed in this article is instead of boycotting palm oil, the government and stakeholders should prioritize the implementation of sustainable practices, enhance the monitoring and enforcement of RSPO scheme standards, and tackle social concerns and deforestation that are always linked to palm oil.</p>2024-03-06T00:00:00-08:00Copyright (c) 2024 Mohd Ikbal Mohd Huda Dhenada, Mohd Ikbal Mohd Hudahttps://www.macrothink.org/journal/index.php/emsd/article/view/21288Effects of Landscape Fragmentation on Soil Loss in the Cerrado Biome, Brazil2024-03-13T18:27:51-07:00Ana Paula Camelopaulaflorestal@gmail.comKeila Sancheskeila.sanches@ifb.edu.brEraldo Aparecido Trondoli Matricardiematricardi@gmail.comEdson Eyji Sanoedson.sano@gmail.comAlvaro Nogueira de Souzaansouza@unb.brEder Pereira Miguelmiguelederpereira@gmail.com<p class="emsd-body">Soil loss stands as a critical global challenge, posing economic and environmental threats to soil and water conservation. This study aimed to assess the impact of landscape changes on soil loss in the Descoberto River basin, encompassing 62 watersheds in the Cerrado biome in central Brazil. We analysed a 32-year time series (1985-2017) of land use and land cover data based on geostatistical techniques and spatiotemporal weighted regression analysis. Principal component analysis condensed 16 landscape metrics into three factors: aggregation/diversity, dispersion/adjacency, and patchiness. The average annual total soil loss across all 62 analysed watersheds was estimated at 73.3 ± 78.2 (standard deviation) ton ha<sup>−1</sup>. A significant positive correlation was observed between landscape fragmentation and soil erosion, indicating that, as fragmentation increases, soil losses also increase. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a decreasing trend in soil loss rates in recent years, primarily attributed to the recovery of native vegetation since no significant soil management practices were widely implemented in the study area during the study period.</p>2024-03-13T18:27:44-07:00Copyright (c) 2023 Ana Paula Camelo, Keila Sanches, Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli Matricardi, Edson Eyji Sano, Alvaro Nogueira de Souza, Eder Pereira Miguel