Role of outdoor trees on pedestrian wind and thermal conditions around a pre-education building for sustainable energy management

Finding sustainable energy resources is essential to face the increasing energy demand.Trees are an important part of ancient architecture but are becoming rare in urban areas.Trees can control and tune the pedestrian-level wind velocity and thermal condition.In this study,a numerical investigation is employed to assess the role of trees planted in the windward direction of the building complex on the thermal and pedestrian wind velocity conditions around/inside a pre-education building located in the center of the complex.Compared to the previous studies(which considered only outside buildings),this work considers the effects of trees on microclimate change both inside/outside buildings.Effects of different parameters including the leaf area density and number of trees,number of rows,far-field velocity magnitude,and thermal condition around the main building are assessed.The results show that the flow velocity in the spacing between the first-row buildings is reduced by 30%-40% when the one-row trees with 2 m height are planted 15 m farther than the buildings.Furthermore,two rows of trees are more effective in higher velocities and reduce the maximum velocity by about 50%.The investigation shows that trees also could reduce the temperature by about 1℃around the building.

Sustainable Management of Biodegradable Waste in Guinea: Effect of Compost on Eggplant and Chilli Crop Yields Pepper

The fight against insalubrity in large urban and peri-urban agglomerations is a major challenge in developing countries. This problem is compounded by that of sustainable waste management mechanisms. Indeed, the current waste collection system in Guinea has proved inadequate, as moving garbage from point “A” to point “B” is tantamount to “moving the problem”. The aim of this experimental work is to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and benefits of sustainable waste management. As part of this drive to valorize biodegradable waste, the Waste Management Research Center has undertaken a series of activities ranging from composting organic waste to testing compost on certain crop varieties. An experimental field of 8024 m2 was laid out and treated with 1500 Kg of fine compost in doses ranging from 2.5 to 5 T/ha. Two crop varieties, eggplant and chili, were tested. Compost application increased production yields: 15 to 21 tonnes of eggplant and 10.4 to 11.1 tonnes of chili per hectare. Growth rates compared with usual yields varied from 50% to 64% and from 11% to 17% for eggplant and chili, respectively. This study resulted in an optimum compost dose of 2.5 T/ha for this phase.

Land Use and Forest Dynamics in the Context of Redd+: Pathway to Sustainable Environmental Management*

Reverting to nature as a major arsenals in a universal fight against Climate Change impact and loss of biodiversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), views sustainable Land use and Forest (the main crux of the Glasgow declaration 2021) as the way to go. Forest conservation, protection and management in the context of REDD+ would guarantee sustainable ecosystem and mitigate climate change impacts. At National and subnational levels, the Nigerian REDD+ readiness scheme holds out hope for environmental sustainability. This study throws light into the historical background of trends in land use forest change in Nigeria, and places Nigeria on a “red” stage 3 (Low Forest Cover, High Deforestation Rate-LFHD) status while maintaining optimism that with REDD+ properly implemented in Nigeria, Stage 4: Low forest cover, Low Deforestation Rates (LFLD) and Stage 5: Low forest cover, Negative Deforestation Rates (LFND) can be achieved by 2030 and 2050 respectively, if the trio of reforestation, afforestation and natural restoration is practiced as a matter of national policy and subnational implementation within the context of REDD+. Four (4) broad drivers of deforestation and forest degradation were identified as direct, indirect, pre-disposing and planned /unplanned. The paper concludes that a viable pathway to sustainable environmental management is appropriate monitoring and evaluation of land use and forest dynamics in the context of REDD+.

A Cradle-to-Cradle Novel Approach for Wastewater Management in Sustainable Urban Communities

Water, a valuable resource to human lives, is being abused and driven to scarcity. This scarcity is leading some countries and areas to face difficulty in accessing drinking water. As the UN recently stated “by 2050 water shortages and harder access will be reached by around 2/3rd of the world total population” [1], thus, there is a high need to treat and reuse wastewater for domestic purposes, which will lead to less reliance on fresh water as an initial water source. Greywater—defined as the water produced in domestic houses including sinks and bathroom showers, and excluding any blackwater mix which is collected from toilets—is a type of wastewater. Greywater accounts for up to 75% of the daily water produced [2] while it has fewer contaminants when compared to blackwater. This makes greywater a focal point for treatment, and reusing to conserve fresh water and approach net zero water concept. Even though the definition of greywater is the same globally, its criteria can differ from one country to another, from one building to another, or even from the same person’s usage along the day. Accordingly, several treatment methods evolved over years aiming at treating the produced greywater for reuse mainly in irrigation and toilet flushing. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a novel net zero wastewater approach applying cradle-to-cradle concept for urban communities;while also proposing a sustainable greywater treatment technique that is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and socially acceptable.

Cassava Groundnut Intercropping: A Sustainable Land Management Practice for Increasing Crop Productivity and Organic Carbon Stock on Smallholder Farms

Cassava-groundnut intercropping is not a common practice among smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone even though both crops are well suited for intercropping. On-farm trials were conducted in three locations (Bai Largor, Bassah, and Njala Kanima) in the Moyamba district during the 2021 cropping season to investigate the efficacy of cassava-groundnut intercropping for increasing crop productivity and soil organic carbon stock on smallholder farms in the Moyamba district, Southern Sierra Leone. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in three replications with treatments of sole groundnut, sole cassava and cassava-groundnut intercropping. Data on the yield and yield components of cassava and groundnut were analysed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 and means were compared using the standard error of difference (SED). The above-ground biomass, number of roots per plant, and fresh root yield of cassava were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the cassava-based cropping system. Averaged across locations, intercropping cassava with groundnut decreased the above-ground biomass, the number of roots per plant, and fresh root yield of cassava by 17%, 11%, and 17%, respectively. The above-ground biomass, number of pods per plant and fresh pod yield of groundnut were significantly (p 1), the highest net revenue and benefit-cost ratio. The benefit-cost ratio was also favourable for the sole cassava (BCR > 1) but not favourable for the sole groundnut (BCR < 1). Averaged across locations, intercropping cassava with groundnut increased the benefit-cost ratio by 121% and 13% when compared to the sole groundnut and sole cassava. In the event of a 40% yield loss for the cassava and groundnut, the benefit-cost ratio was favourable (1.12) only for the cassava groundnut intercropping system. The net soil organic carbon stock was favourable only for the cassava-groundnut intercrop. Averaged across locations, the net soil organic carbon for the cassava-groundnut intercropping increased by 3.4% when compared to the baseline within one cropping cycle of the cassava (12 months). The results confirm that cassava-groundnut intercropping is a sustainable land management practice that could enhance crop productivity and soil organic carbon stock on smallholder farms.

Gender Consideration in Sustainable Land Management Project Activities on the Highlands of Kilimanjaro Region: Lessons and Future Outlook

The paper contributes on understanding gender considerations into Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project activities on the Highlands of Kilimanjaro Region. Specifically, it documents gender profile and assesses the project activities along with gender considerations, where critical issues, risks and opportunities in relation to gender mainstreaming in SLM project activities are highlighted. It evaluates also the capacity for mainstreaming gender issues into the institutions involved in project implementation. The study employed structured interview and consultative meetings methods with key actors identified. A total of 500 respondents were interviewed in the project catchment areas in the region. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The paper winds up by consolidating key strategic areas for intervention as future outlook and lessons which manifests benchmarks for the Kilimanjaro region to adopt a more programmatic approach to sustainable land management and elsewhere of the same in other cities with the same context in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Application of Stork Optimization Algorithm for Solving Sustainable Lot Size Optimization

The efficiency of businesses is often hindered by the challenges encountered in traditional Supply Chain Manage-ment(SCM),which is characterized by elevated risks due to inadequate accountability and transparency.To address these challenges and improve operations in green manufacturing,optimization algorithms play a crucial role in supporting decision-making processes.In this study,we propose a solution to the green lot size optimization issue by leveraging bio-inspired algorithms,notably the Stork Optimization Algorithm(SOA).The SOA draws inspiration from the hunting and winter migration strategies employed by storks in nature.The theoretical framework of SOA is elaborated and mathematically modeled through two distinct phases:exploration,based on migration simulation,and exploitation,based on hunting strategy simulation.To tackle the green lot size optimization issue,our methodology involved gathering real-world data,which was then transformed into a simplified function with multiple constraints aimed at optimizing total costs and minimizing CO_(2) emissions.This function served as input for the SOA model.Subsequently,the SOA model was applied to identify the optimal lot size that strikes a balance between cost-effectiveness and sustainability.Through extensive experimentation,we compared the performance of SOA with twelve established metaheuristic algorithms,consistently demonstrating that SOA outperformed the others.This study’s contribution lies in providing an effective solution to the sustainable lot-size optimization dilemma,thereby reducing environmental impact and enhancing supply chain efficiency.The simulation findings underscore that SOA consistently achieves superior outcomes compared to existing optimization methodologies,making it a promising approach for green manufacturing and sustainable supply chain management.

Exploring Sustainable Energy Futures: Assessing the Viability of CanmetENERG’s Hydropower Initiatives in Cameroon

This study examines how hydroelectric power projects, specifically the CanmetENERG initiative in Cameroon, play a crucial part in promoting sustainable development. Hydropower, seen as a cheap, local, and sustainable power source, is given top priority in government funding plans, especially in emerging nations. By making use of the RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Software, the analysis examines the financial feasibility of different choices for CanmetENERG, emphasizing the importance of a holistic strategy that incorporates economic, environmental, and social factors in project development. The importance of factoring in environmental, social, and cultural aspects in project development is highlighted by the substantial influence of tunnel construction on total expenses. The paper suggests harnessing Cameroon’s unused hydroelectric capacity while following sustainable development principles and international standards. It emphasizes the need for a well-rounded strategy that focuses on economic sustainability in addition to environmental and social issues to guarantee Cameroon’s energy market can sustain itself. Moreover, the research emphasizes the continuing need for advancements in hydroelectric power through research and technology, encouraging cooperation between academia, industry, and policymakers. Community involvement and stakeholder engagement are considered essential for inclusive decision-making and socially responsible project development. It is advised to use adaptive management tactics to deal with changing environmental and socio-economic circumstances. The CanmetENERG case study showcases a model for responsible and sustainable hydropower development that boosts the country’s energy security and environmental resilience. Apart from this particular instance, the study provides more extensive perspectives on effective methods for sustainable energy development, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining a good balance between energy security, economic feasibility, and ecological sustainability. It requires a strategic shift towards self-sufficiency in energy and decreased reliance on imports. The article envisions a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to shaping the future of hydroelectricity, emphasizing continuous research, technological advancements, and the involvement of key stakeholders. By promoting creativity, eco-friendly practices, and community engagement, hydroelectric projects can act as catalysts for sustainable development, making valuable contributions to society.

Risk Analysis of the Development of Sustainable Dongtan

Dongtan is set to be developed as a sustainable urban-rural integration,aiming to attract a wide range of commercial and leisure investments.The Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation(SIIC),the largest international investment group owned by the Shanghai municipal government,is leading the Dongtan project in partnership with Arup.The project’s risks are categorized into eight major groups:(1)Force majeure,(2)people-related risks,(3)financial and economic risks,(4)political and country risks,(5)environmental risks,(6)completion-related risks,(7)design-related risks,and(8)technology risks.Among these,political risk is particularly notable for its high probability and significant impact.Effective project risk management is essential to foresee and address uncertainties that could jeopardize the project’s objectives and timelines.Appropriate strategies must be implemented to manage and mitigate these risks.

Export Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of the Ukrainian Timber Industry

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the export dynamics within the Ukrainian timber industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in the national economy. The study begins by outlining the research objectives, context, and innovative methodologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable and competitive trade. It explores Ukraine’s rich forest biodiversity across varied vegetation zones and its geopolitical significance. Detailed evaluations of forest resource management, policy frameworks, and institutional support form the core of the analysis. Challenges such as imbalanced export structures and legal inconsistencies are critically examined. The research employs trade gravity models and competitive indicators like the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Market Share (MS) to assess factors influencing exports and to forecast potential growth areas. The findings inform strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing export capacity through market diversification, brand development, and legal stability. The conclusion highlights the need for strategic interventions to harness Ukraine’s timber resources sustainably, balancing economic gains with environmental stewardship.

The Potential Impacts of National, Regional and International Policies and Legislation on the Sustainable Forest Management for NTFPs： A Swaziland Case Study

The objective of this study entails the review and assessment of the relevance of existing and draft policies and legislation that affects the Non-timber Forest Products （NTFP） sector in Swaziland. A hierarchical method of policy and legislation review and analysis was devised for this study. Findings indicated that most national policies and legislation are outdated and old-fashioned, with gaps and overlaps, and there is lack of collaboration between institutions implementing these. The present national forest policy does not adequately guide the development of NTFPs. As a consequence, whilst international policies and legislation capture an excellent spectrum of elements and issues on NTFPs they still remain difficult to implement. However, national level criteria and indicators have issues and elements that are relevant to the sustainable use of NTFPs. It was recommended that national strategies, action plans, policies and legislation be reviewed and updated. The study shows that there are no existing institutional networks or formal collaboration between the institutions involved in the implementation of local, national, regional, and international policies and legislation that affect NTFPs. Government, private sector, Non-Governmental Organizations （NGO＇s）, communities, individuals, and all concerned agencies should jointly develop and implement policies and legislation to provide secure access and benefits to people whose livelihood depends on/is supplemented by NTFPs and further foster networking and collaboration. The immediate adoption and implementation of the 11 policy recommendations on the sustainable management of Non-timber Forest Resources compiled by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity （CBD） from the Convention on Biological Diversity is highly recommended. It is worthwhile to note that while some of the 11 recommendations were directly inherited from certain articles of the CBD some are general recommendations.

Integrating Project Management, Software Development, and Knowledge Management Models: A Case Study in a Public ICT Services Organization

In project-based organizations knowledge is a critical resource used to develop and deliver products and services with a high level of quality. Therefore, a systematic and sustainable process is necessary to coordinate knowledge management, project management and product lifecycle. This scenario predominates in companies focused on the creation and maintenance of information systems. This article presents an exploratory study based on a framework that integrates cognitive, managerial, and operational processes in a public Brazilian organization that provides services in the area of information and communications technology, focusing on the construction and maintenance of information systems. Those processes are operationalized by three management models considering knowledge, project, and software development processes. Our proposal aims to understand the relationships between those three management models and their influence on the software development process in the organization under study. Our premise is based on the principle that cognitive management, project management, and software development management must be integrated to fulfill the demands of product development and service provision. The research data was composed of registers of working hours spent on software development and maintenance projects involving 244 people allocated to 5064 projects in the period from 2007 to 2013. The study resulted in the identification of the relationships among the three management models adopted by the organization, with emphasis on knowledge management activities, which were not directly identified, making it difficult to account for and measure them. We established a set of activities connected to each one of the knowledge management model phases. Since those activities were not visible before, our approach contributed to build a systematic process to register and relate activities linked to the dimensions of cognitive processes, project management, and software construction.

How Does Robotics Process Automation (RPA) Affect Project Management Practices

The main purpose of this literature review is to understand the effectiveness and impacts of Robotics Process Automation (RPA) on the practices of Project Management (PM). For attaining the purposes of the research study, an extensive literature review was conducted, which helped in gaining a theoretical understanding. These findings were then justified with the help of current and relevant secondary sources in the analysis section. The findings suggested that RPA is quite advantageous for implementing in varied aspects of a business, especially in the field of project management. However, it can pose several challenges, which need to be taken into due consideration by the organizations during execution such as the capabilities of the employees and the abilities of the existing systems to incorporate automation, among others. It was ultimately concluded that RPA is highly advantageous for project management teams but its effective implementation is the key to success.

Application of system dynamics for assessment of sustainable performance of construction projects

Sustainable performance is expected to become a major factor when examining the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its life cycle performance. The study on which this paper is based developed a simulation model, using system dy- namics methodology, to assess the sustainable performance of projects. Three major factors are used to examine project sus- tainable performance (PSP): the sustainability of economic development (E), the sustainability of social development (S), and the sustainability of environmental development (En). Sustainable development ability (SDA) was used as a prototype to evaluate the degree of sustainable performance. The simulation software ‘ithink’ was used to help with the application of the model to a real life case. This paper explains and demonstrates the procedures used to develop the model and finally offers an approach for assessing the feasibility of a construction project in terms of its sustainable performance.

Strategies for Sustainable Environmental Management of Construction Activities in Ghana

The Ghanaian construction industry continues to improve by the recent intensification of infrastructure development by government and the private sector. Nonetheless, this is happening with a strong focus on economic development to the detriment of the environment these activities affect. This paper focuses on identifying the strategies by which sustainable environmental management could be structured to mitigate the impact of construction activities in Ghana. A mixed-method research approach was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 83 practitioners in the construction industry, while qualitative data were elicited from 18 Construction and Environmental Management practitioners. The mean scores indicated that all the 20 strategies for integrating environmental concerns into construction activities in Ghana were considered significant by the respondents. The empirical findings of the study indicate that for environmental concerns to be effectively integrated into construction activities in Ghana, a concerted effort will be required from the various actors within the construction industry. These include the role of clients in selecting environmentally conscious service providers, designers focusing on environmentally friendly construction materials and methods, reduce, recycling and reuse of waste materials, the commitment of government towards sustainable development, and well-structured educational campaigns to promote environmentally sustainable construction activities.

Evaluation of Sustainable Land Management and Diagnosis of Obstacle at County Scale in Sichuan Basin:Taking Lezhi County as Example

This paper established sustainable land resources evaluating indicators fit for hilly area in Sichuan Basin, Southwest of China, and evaluated the case of sustainable land management of Lezhi County from 1990 to 2001. The result showed that the land resource sustainable utilization ability in Lezhi County is belong to Second level （better sustainable）. Secondly, this paper diagnosed some years obstacles of sustainable land management of Lezhi County from base period to goal period and compared the obstacles factors in the indicators system. There were 16 indexes orderly become major affect factor to land sustainable utilization of Lezhi county in indicator system, of which there are 8 obstacles indexes exist both in 1990 and 2001. The value of obstacles degree of five indicators exceeded 5 in 1990, but in 2001, only two indicators＇ values were more than 5.

Goal programming approach for sustainable forest management(case study in Iranian Caspian forests)

We used a goal programming technique to determine the optimal harvest volume for the Iranian Caspian forest. We collected data including volume, growth, wood price at forest roadside, and variable harvesting costs. The allometric method was used to quantify seques- trated carbon. Regression analysis was used to derive growth models. Expected mean price was estimated using wood price and variable harvesting costs. Questionnaire was used to determine the constraints and the equation coefficients of the goal programming model. The optimal volume was determined using the goal programming method according to multipurpose forest management. LINGO software was used for analysis. Results indicated that the optimum volumes of species were 250.25 m3.ha-1 for beech, 59 m3.ha-1 for hornbeam, 73 m3.ha-1 for oak, 41 m3.ha-1 for alder, and 32 m3.ha-1 for other species. The total optimum volume is 455.25 m3.ha-1.

A PROJECT OF SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF FOREST RESOURCES SUPPORTED BY GIS

This paper, with the help of GIS, analyzes the structure characteristics, dynamic process and factors which result in failure of forest resources sustainable development in Tayuan Forest Farm, Da Hinggan Mountains, finds that there are big problems either in quantity or in Planning for forest resource development, and puts forward a project for its forest resources sustainable utilization. From the analysis, this paper is going to find an available develoment project for forest resourees sustainabe utlization for the forest farm, and also provides the proection and management of forest resources and the strategy of sustainable forestry development with scienndc foundation.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT OF TIDAL FLAT IN JIANGSU PROVINCE,CHINA

With huge area, favorable light, heat and water conditions, rich biological diversity, and a unique ecological system of submarine sand ridges, Jiangsu tidal flat has great significance to its economic development. Based on the geomorphological characteristics, Jiangsu tidal flat is dynamically divided into stable, erosional and accumulative types. In light of resources distribution, evolution rules of Jiangsu tidal flat, existing problems in coastal management, exploitation and utilization, the sustainable development theory is applied to guide the comprehensive exploitation and utilization of tidal flat. Taking different regions with different local conditions in consideration, and in order to make economic development coordinate with local resources and environments, four regional sustainable development models, i.e. (A) Abandoned Huanghe (Yellow) River delta section for salt and aquatic products industries, (B) Sheyang section for reed, aquaculture and rare animal protection, (C) Dafeng and Dongtai section for agricultural comprehensive exploitation, (D) Nantong section for aquaculture and agriculture, are suggested. Meanwhile, the paper takes the guiding ideology of sustainable development to be reflected in modern integrated coastal management and legislation.

The challenge of applying governance and sustainable development to wildland fire management in Southern Europe

This paper discusses participatory processes in wildland fire management （WFM）. Participation is an essential element of both the European Sustainable Development （SD） Strategy and the White Paper on Governance. Governance end SD have thus become an interconnected challenge to be applied to WFM （as a sub-area in forest policy）, amongst other policies. An overspread weakness in WFM is lack of real participation of stakeholders. Absence of （or deficient） participation can seriously impair contribution of this group to WFM in high-risk areas and runs counter governance and the SDS. Further, this weakness might prevent an efficient use of fire as a land management tool （prescribed burning, PB） and as a technique for fighting wildfire （suppression fire, SF）. Even though these fire practices have been well known in many different places, they have been increasingly neglected or Prohibited over time in Southern Europe. At present, forest and fire fighting administrations are turning their eyes back on them and analyzing the benefits of using fire in relation to preventive and suppressive actions. Therefore, participatory and diffusion mechanisms （the latter adopting the shape of national and international experts＇ networks） are required in order to solve the so- called fire paradox： that is, the need to move from a one-dimensinnal perception of the negative impacts of fire to a more sophisticated one that also stresses its positive effects. Governance, based on broad social participation, and diffusion, through fire networks, are of utmost importance in order, first, to diminish long-standing suspicion amongst different interests as to the use of fire and, secondly, to diffuse best practices associated with PB and SF. Most importantly, the ELI should exercise its environmental leadership so that these new fire practices and sustainable WFM are diffused across the international arena.